Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Lost Michigan Hiker Survived By Shouting For Help
Craig Berg went hiking alone on a remote island in Michigan.
He planned to hike for a week and then return home.
After four days, he lost the trail and became stuck in a muddy swamp.
His phone fell into the water, so he could not call for help.
He found a small dry place, put up his bright-orange tent, and stayed there.
He ate very little and drank swamp water treated with chlorine tablets.
Every day, he shouted, “Help!
I’m lost!”
about 10,000 times.
Two kayakers finally heard him on September 12, and a helicopter crew rescued him.
Craig Berg, 70, became lost during a solo hiking trip in Isle Royale National Park.
He wandered into a muddy swamp, dropped his phone, and had no map or way to signal for help.
Berg rationed his food, drank treated swamp water, and stayed on elevated ground beside his orange tent.
He shouted “Help! I’m lost!” roughly 10,000 times while waiting for rescuers.
Two kayakers heard him on September 12, leading to his rescue by a United States Coast Guard helicopter crew.
- Who
- Craig Berg, a 70-year-old hiker, was rescued after becoming lost; state troopers, park rangers, search-and-rescue dogs, kayakers, and a United States Coast Guard helicopter crew were involved.
- What
- Berg survived for more than a week in a swamp after losing the trail and was rescued after kayakers heard him calling for help.
- When
- He was located and rescued on September 12, after being missing for over a week.
- Where
- Isle Royale National Park, a remote island in Lake Superior near the Canadian border.
- Why
- He became lost after leaving the trail and entering a dense, muddy swamp, where he dropped his phone and could not signal for help.
- Hiker
- Craig Berg, age 70
- Location
- Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior
- Survival period
- More than one week
- Repeated plea
- “Help! I’m lost!” shouted roughly 10,000 times
- Food and water
- Rationed food and drank swamp water treated with chlorine tablets
- Discovery date
- September 12
- Rescue method
- Kayakers heard Berg; a United States Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued him