Sisters Caroline and Leia Carrico, ages 5 and 8, were reported missing from their home in Benbow, CA, Friday evening. But, with their survival training, the girls were found alive in the California wilderness almost 48 hours later, by rescuers who tracked their location using wrappers the girls dropped and prints from one of their pink rubber boots.
The little girls were found by a local fire chief and firefighter 1.4 miles from home, according to Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal. At a local news conference, Honsal said, “We’re all witnessing a miracle. This is rugged territory, this is an extreme environment. They definitely have a survival story to tell.”
More than 250 people from 14 agencies searched for the girls. Rescuers eventually found their bootprints and wrappers from granola bars. “The wrappers showed us a direction from where they started to where the wrappers ended up at,” Lt. Mike Fridley said.
“Granola bar wrappers and boot prints gave us a location and starting point. Search crews followed additional boot prints found this morning, which led to the girls,” said Samantha Karges, a spokesperson for the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.
“They [the girls] were trained through 4-H for outdoor survival, we believe that played a part” in their survival, Honsal said. 4-H is a non-profit that runs youth groups around the country. The tracks led rescuers to an area near Richardson Grove State Park, where when search crews shouted their names, the girls responded. “The girls were located huddled together under a bush,” the sheriff’s office said. “The girls told first responders that they were following a deer trail when they had become lost. The two decided to stay put, drinking fresh water from Huckleberry leaves.”
The sisters were evaluated by medical personnel for dehydration but had no injuries. They were given water and warm, dry clothing before being reunited with family shortly after being located.
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