A 76-year-old Vietnam war veteran has described himself as a living “miracle” after surviving four days lost in the rugged Arizona wilderness with minimal supplies, ultimately rescued by his own son. Mark Young spoke to Phoenix’s KNXV news station about his ordeal, saying, “I’ve never felt so loved. My gratitude is inexpressible.”
The Disappearance
Young set out on a solo hiking and camping trip on April 16, driving a rented vehicle deep into the backcountry of Yavapai County. He planned to attend a wedding afterward. However, when his GPS lost signal, he became disoriented. When he failed to appear for dinner the next evening in Verde Valley, his family reported him missing. Search crews began combing the area.
The Search Efforts
On the morning of April 18, searchers found Young’s car on a remote road, but he was not there. Many of his belongings, including his sleeping bag, remained in the vehicle. Young, a seasoned hiker with survival training from his military service, had a compass, canteens, water purification pills, and lighters. He spent the days seeking shade under a cedar tree, battling dehydration, killing a rattlesnake, and failing to start a campfire.
Meanwhile, his seven children flew in from out of town to join the search. Searchers encountered a mountain lion, a black bear, and difficult terrain. On April 20, they heard “distant, faint yells for help,” but winds and canyon land prevented pinpointing the source.
The Rescue
Young heard voices he initially thought were hikers. Then a voice shouted, “Dad,” and he recognized his son Josh. They “hugged and wept” after Young did a “double take.” Josh, using a satellite phone, sent an “incredible text message” that he had found his father about six miles from the car. A Maricopa County sheriff’s helicopter hoisted Young from the canyon floor and airlifted him to a Phoenix hospital.
Young was dehydrated and had some physical injuries but was otherwise okay. His daughter Emily attributed his survival to his good physical and mental shape. Josh thanked search crews, saying, “My dad’s life was worth saving. And your team’s showed that.”
Young, a former Arizona resident now living on the East Coast, said, “You’re looking at a miracle. Your faith and your hard work will be remembered as long as I live.”
