Stranded in Remote Canada: Andrew Barber’s Nine-Day Fight to Survive | E 186

Join hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen on The Crux True Survival Story Podcast as they delve into the harrowing ordeal of Andrew Barber. On July 28, 2025, while searching for his missing dog in the remote Cariboo region of British Columbia, Andrew's tire blows out, leaving him stranded in the wilderness. With no cell service and miles from help, Andrew faces a brutal nine-day survival fight against extreme heat, contaminated water, and treacherous terrain. Discover how Andrew's quick thinking, resourcefulness, and sheer will to survive led to his miraculous rescue just in time, and learn important lessons about wilderness survival, resilience, and preparedness.

00:00 Introduction to the Crux True Survival Story Podcast

00:30 Setting the Scene: A Remote Wilderness Search

02:22 Andrew Barber's Ordeal Begins

04:04 The Decision to Leave the Truck

06:51 Survival Tactics and Challenges

25:21 The Search and Rescue Effort

31:48 Lessons Learned and Final Thoughts

37:25 Conclusion and Listener Engagement

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References

Primary News Sources - Andrew Barber Case:

1. Global News Canada - "B.C. man survives 2 weeks in wilderness by drinking pond water: 'A horror movie'" by staff, August 13, 2025. https://globalnews.ca/news/11332076/bc-man-survives-2-weeks-wilderness-drinking-pond-water-horror-movie/
2. Global News Canada - "39-year-old missing in central B.C. wilderness found alive" by staff, August 10, 2025. https://globalnews.ca/news/11328597/andrew-barber-rescue/
3. CBS News - "Man survives 9 days in wilderness drinking dirty pond water, carved 'HELP' on rock before rescue" by staff, August 12, 2025. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/andrew-barber-canada-rescue-wilderness-british-columbia-cariboo-region/
4. The Williams Lake Tribune - "Missing man found alive in Cariboo wilderness after 9-day search" by staff, August 10, 2025. https://www.wltribune.com/local-news/missing-williams-lake-rcmp-hoping-to-locate-andrew-barber-8174340
5. CFJC Today Kamloops - "Missing man in central B.C. wilderness found alive after more than a week" by staff, August 10, 2025. https://cfjctoday.com/2025/08/10/missing-man-in-central-b-c-wilderness-found-alive-after-more-than-a-week/
6. The Globe and Mail - "Missing B.C. man's creative survival skills including drinking pond water keeps him alive in wilderness" by staff, August 2025. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/british-columbia/article-missing-bc-man-survives-wilderness/
7. Newsweek - "Man Lost in Wilderness Found Alive After 9 Days Without Clean Water" by staff, August 12, 2025. https://www.newsweek.com/missing-man-lost-wilderness-2112312
8. Victoria Times Colonist - "Missing B.C. man survives several days in wilderness by slurping water from ponds" by The Canadian Press, August 10, 2025. https://www.timescolonist.com/bc-news/missing-bc-man-survives-several-days-in-wilderness-by-slurping-water-from-ponds-11057491
9. TODAY.com - "Man in Canada Rescued After Writing 'Help' and 'SOS' Messages in Wilderness" by staff, August 2025. https://www.today.com/news/canadian-man-rescued-wilderness-sos-help-signs-rcna224623
10. Castanet.net - "B.C. man survives several days in wilderness by slurping water from ponds" by staff, August 10, 2025. https://www.castanet.net/news/BC/565926/B-C-man-survives-several-days-in-wilderness-by-slurping-water-from-ponds

Geographic and Regional Information:

1. Province of British Columbia - "Cariboo region" - Environmental and Natural Resource Assessment. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/natural-resource-stewardship/cumulative-effects-framework/regional-assessments/cariboo
2. Wikipedia - "Williams Lake, British Columbia" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williams_Lake,_British_Columbia
3. Wikipedia - "McLeese Lake, British Columbia" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLeese_Lake,_British_Columbia
4. Province of British Columbia - "Resource roads" - Information on BC's forest service road network. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/natural-resource-use/resource-roads
5. Province of British Columbia - "Connectivity coverage in B.C." - Cell service and telecommunications infrastructure. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/connectivity-in-bc/20358

Weather and Climate Data:

1. CBC News - "Metro Vancouver now under heat warning, along with much of southern B.C." August 2025. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/heat-bc-vancouver-1.7605687
2. CBC News - "Heat warnings in effect for B.C.'s north and central coast, parts of southern Interior" August 25, 2025. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/heat-warnings-air-quality-statement-bc-aug-25-1.7616863
3. CBC News - "Lytton, B.C., records hottest temperature in Canada this year as province bakes" August 2025. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/lytton-hottest-temperature-in-canada-1.7618177
4. Government of British Columbia - "Be prepared, stay safe this B.C. Day long weekend" - Heat warning information, August 2025. https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025EMCR0033-000726

Wilderness Medicine and Water Safety:

1. Mayo Clinic - "Giardia infection (giardiasis) - Symptoms & causes" https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/giardia-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20372786
2. Wikipedia - "Wilderness-acquired diarrhea" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilderness-acquired_diarrhea
3. Wilderness Survival Network - "Water Procurement" - Survival water sources and risks. https://www.wilderness-survival.net/chp6.php

Search and Rescue Operations:

1. BC Search and Rescue Association - "SAR In BC" - Information on BC's SAR system and operations. https://bcsara.com/sar-in-bc/
2. Wikipedia - "Emergency Management BC" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_Management_BC
3. Vertical Magazine - "The RCMP's New Truck" - Information on RCMP helicopter capabilities. https://verticalmag.com/features/the-new-truck/

Comparative Case - Ryan Davenport:

1. Multiple BC news sources and missing persons databases regarding Ryan Davenport's 2019 disappearance in the Chilcotin Plateau region (case remains unsolved)

Additional Context:

1. Modern Warrior Project - "Lost and Found: The Wilderness Survival Story of Andrew Barber" https://modernwarriorproject.com/lost-and-found-the-wilderness-survival-story-of-andrew-barber/

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