Gran, 72, lost for nine days in US wilderness survived on pond water and plants

A GRANDMOTHER has been rescued after spending nine days lost in an Arizona wilderness where she survived on pond water and desert plants.

Rescuers revealed they had found Ann Rodgers after spotting a “help” sign she had made with sticks. The 72-year-old went missing on March 31 as she travelled to Phoenix to visit her grandchildren.

She got lost and her hybrid vehicle ran out of fuel and electric power. Ms Rodgers, who was found in the White Mount a i ns of e a s t e r n Ari z ona on Saturday, told Tucson TV station KOLD that she had food and water in the car but ran out and turned to survival mode. “I was eating desert plants. My dog was too, diving into clovers and finding all the places that were the easiest to go.”

Ms Rodgers climbed several ridges in an attempt to get a mobile phone signal to call for help, but was unable to find her way back to her car. She spent the next nine days and nights in the wilderness running the risk of bear attacks.

Her car was found three days after a search began and authorities came across her dog at the weekend. A Department of Public Safety flight crew then spotted her “help” sign.

Ms Rodgers had left the area but she was found nearby on the Fort Apache reservation after starting a fire. When the helicopter landed, she sat down and cried and was suffering exposure. A search official said: “The probabilities of finding her alive were really low.”