72-Year-Old Woman Survives 9 Days in Arizona Desert

72-year-old Ann Rodgers survived nine days in the Arizona desert by drinking pond water and eating plants, until being rescued over the weekend, ABC News reports.

Rodgers reportedly went missing, along with her dog, on March 31 after she ran out of gas on her way to Phoenix to visit her grandkids. According to what the Arizona Department of Public Safety told ABC, Rodgers was stranded in a remote area near Canyon Creek on the White River Indian Reservation, where she then tried to climb for better cell phone reception before getting lost.

For the next nine days and nights, Rodgers and her dog lived in the wilderness until authorities located her car on April 3, which prompted a two-day search, including aerial searches, however officials were still unable to find her.

According to the network, Rodgers’ dog was found six days later. Officials then did another aerial search, during which a crew spotted a “help” sign that Rodgers made out of sticks and rocks.

Once officers located the sign on the ground, they also reportedly found a hand-written note from April 3, detailing Rodgers’ condition, including how she was almost out of food and water and that she was “proceeding down the canyon.”

“Further down the canyon, ADPS Ranger discovered what appeared to be a shelter that had been abandoned by Rodgers,” public safety said in a statement obtained by ABC. “As ADPS continued the search and rounded a bend in the canyon, Rodgers was located standing next to a signal fire and waving to the helicopter.”

Although she reportedly suffered from exposure, she was taken to the hospital in fair condition.

This article originally appeared on people.com