74-Year Old Arizona Man is Found After Being Stranded in the Wilderness For Three Days

It’s a miracle—a 74-year-old Arizona man was found after being stranded in the wilderness for 3 entire days. He wouldn’t have made it another day if it weren’t for hunters who spotted his vehicle.

Man Found After Being Stranded in the Wilderness

Mike Johnson, who suffers from Parkinson’s Disease, went missing on Aug. 27. Despite large search parties and community support, it was rangers–responding to the vehicle tip—who finally found Mike after 3 days, lying in a field after they saw his side-by-side vehicle in Walnut Canyon, Navajo County.

Mike was in critical condition and was unresponsive when the hunters found him. “He would not have survived one more night there,” said Christy Day, a family friend.

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She says Mike was rushing home and got lost. He had survived by making fires at night and taking shelter in his vehicle.

“When they found him, and he was breathing, our prayers were answered,” Christy explained. “He is a miracle. The lord had his hand in this."

Mike was airlifted to the Heber Fire Station, where he received immediate attention. He was later airlifted to the Flagstaff Medical Center, where he was placed in the ICU.

“If you are lucky enough to know the Johnsons then you know they are the kind of people who would drop anything to help others,” said Brittney Hudson, who organized a GoFundMe for the family. “More times than not they are lending a helping hand to others around them and now they are needing our help.“

Mike Has a Long Way to Go to Restore His Health

“He is making progress each and every day but still has a long road of recovery ahead of him,” Brittney said. The funds raised through the GoFundMe “will help offset the cost of the medical bills- including flight, hospital treatment, and rehab.” Leftover funds “will be donated directly to the search and rescue teams who work effortlessly to find lost loved ones. We know without them we would not have Mike home.”

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Christy said Mike’s rescue is a “modern-day miracle” and spoke for Mike’s wife, who wanted “everyone to know how great the community up north was in Heber-Overgard and how everyone pulled together, and she wants to give thanks to all those search and rescue teams and the sheriff’s department up there that came together. And she wants to thank God.”

Wow—to think that the rangers found Mike just in time to save him is incredible. Thank God that he was found at last. His family is relieved, and he’s on the road to recovery.

WATCH: 74-Year-Old Arizona Man is Found After Being Stranded in the Wilderness For Three Days

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h/t: People

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/ABC15 Arizona

Michaela Gordoni is an avid reader and part-time globe-trotter. With a bachelor's degree in International Relations and experience in the non-profit world, she has a passion for people and reporting. You can check out her portfolio here.