A 72-Year-Old Woman and Her Dog Survived 9 Days Lost in the Arizona Wilderness

A 72-year-old woman and her dog survived being lost in the Arizona wilderness for more than a week, authorities said Tuesday.

Ann Rodgers had been stranded for nine days in a remote area near Canyon Creek after she got lost on her way to Phoenix to visit her grandchildren and ran out of gas, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said.

A search party found her on Saturday in “fair condition” and flew her to a nearby hospital in a helicopter. She and her dog survived by drinking pond water and eating plants, public safety officials said.

Rodgers also spelled out a “HELP” message, using sticks and rocks, which was spotted by an aircraft crew.