EDMONTON - After two weeks in the woods, a woman who went missing in northern Alberta is home recovering from injuries.

According to RCMP, Rhonda Cardinal, 41, was first reported missing when she walked away from a remote hunting cabin north of Calling Lake - about three hours north of Edmonton - and failed to return.

A extensive search began the next evening on Aug. 1 involving Mounties from Calling Lake, Slave Lake and Lac La Biche, as well as search and rescue units, Athabasca Fish and Wildlife, and the Athabasca Fire Department.

However, no sign of Cardinal could be found and police called off the main search Aug. 8.
Police continued investigating, however, and were asking the public for information to help. On Wednesday at around 11 a.m., hopes of finding her were answered.

Police said Cardinal flagged down an out-of-province oil worker who was driving to work at a remote oil lease site about 22 km from were she was last seen. He had read about the missing woman that morning in the local newspaper and stopped to help, Mounties said.

“The ground in between this point and where she was found consists of boggy areas, muskeg and thick treed areas - basically rough terrain,” said a release from RCMP following her rescue.

The man drove her to his work site where they found a helicopter pilot who offered to fly her to Athabasca. She was taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries there.

“I cannot thank those who helped us enough,” said Athabasca RCMP Sgt. Brian Scott, adding thanks are owed to those who worked hard in adverse and challenging conditions in hopes of finding Cardinal alive.

The woman’s family has asked for their privacy as Cardinal gets treated for her injuries.

david.lazzarino@sunmedia.ca
@SUNDaveLazz