An Alberta woman who was first reported missing two weeks ago in a remote part of the province showed up alive and well on Wednesday.
Rhonda Cardinal's family reported her missing on Aug. 1 when she disappeared from a remote hunting camp in the Calling Lake area.
Police and volunteer crews spent days searching for Cardinal in the dense bush, muskeg and rough terrain around the isolated cabin, but gave up the search last Wednesday.
Then on Thursday, Cardinal simply walked out of the bush and flagged down a passing vehicle on a remote access road about 22 kilometres from where she was reported missing.
A worker with Husky Oil who was travelling to a project site stopped and picked up the 41-year-old woman.
He drove Cardinal to his work site, and was able to connect with a helicopter pilot who flew her to Athabasca for treatment of minor injuries.
She later said she survived by eating berries and drinking water she found in streams, but it was the discovery of a remote hunting cabin that saved her life, providing shelter from the elements.
Cardinal said she broke a window to get into the cabin, where she found water, canned goods and socks for her damaged feet.
She spent two nights there before once again setting out for help.
Police said Cardinal's family was relieved to know she was alive and well, but released no other details about the nature of her disappearance.
Alberta RCMP praised the oil worker and helicopter pilot for their actions, as well as the police and civilian search crews.
With a report from CTV Edmonton
