Isle Royale officials detail rescue of missing 70-year-old hiker
A 70-year-old man lost on Isle Royale was located by kayakers and airlifted by the Coast Guard after a week-long search involving multiple agencies.
National Park Service officials said two kayakers on Isle Royale discovered Craig Berg, 70, of Royal Oak, Michigan, after he had been missing for more than a week. Berg was found at Intermediate Lake, more than a mile from the island's established trails, and was airlifted by a U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter to Marquette airport before being taken to a hospital.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reported that Berg was in good condition and was able to walk into the hospital before the final search teams arrived. His son, Evan Berg, told Detroit TV station WDIV that his father had become lost, fallen into a marsh, and lost his cell phone and wallet before the kayakers located him.
Park officials said the rescue followed a coordinated effort that included ground teams with search dogs, boats, drones, and aircraft from the Coast Guard and the Minnesota State Patrol. The agency’s news release noted that the search covered dense forests, rocky shorelines, wetlands and inland lakes where limited cellular coverage can hinder communication.
"The successful outcome reflects the combined efforts of search teams, partner agencies and members of the public who assisted throughout the operation," park officials said.
Berg had been on a solo hike and was scheduled to return to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on Sept. 5, but did not arrive, prompting the extensive search. Isle Royale National Park, a 45-mile-long island with no roads, relies on a network of rugged trails and canoe routes for visitor access.