A 70-year-old Michigan man who vanished during a solo hike in Isle Royale National Park was found alive and alert Saturday after a week-long search, according to the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes. Craig Berg, of Royal Oak, was suffering from hypothermia when Coast Guard and Michigan State Police crews rescued him from the remote island in Lake Superior.
Berg had arrived at the park on Aug. 27 for an extended solo hike and was reported missing after he failed to return home on Sept. 5, the Detroit Free Press reported. The Coast Guard said Berg was spotted by «good Samaritan» backpackers in the park on Saturday before Michigan State Police foot patrols and K-9 units reached him. Video released by authorities shows a helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City hoisting Berg from the ground. He was then flown to a regional airport in Gwinn for emergency medical evaluation.
Officials did not disclose what happened to Berg while he was missing or provide additional details about his injuries. The rescue operation involved multiple agencies and resources, including a 45-foot Coast Guard boat, drones, and seaplanes. The search was coordinated among the National Park Service, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Keweenaw County Sheriff's Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, and Minnesota Department of Public Safety, according to Lt. Ben Eckola, a Michigan State Police public information officer.
«We're also thankful to the fellow hikers who helped, Isle Royale Seaplanes, and No One Left Behind K9 Search and Rescue. Everyone's efforts played an important part in finding Craig,» Eckola said in a statement.
Isle Royale National Park is located on a remote island in Lake Superior near the Canadian border. Due to its isolated location, it is one of the least-visited national parks in the country and has limited infrastructure. Berg's wife, Debbie, told the Detroit Free Press that only two rangers are stationed on the island and that the park has two camp stores and a lodge. According to the park's website, cell phone service is often «unreliable,» and many types of equipment are generally prohibited on the island, including bicycles, motorized vehicles, and drones.
The rescue highlights the challenges of search-and-recovery missions in such a remote setting, where access is limited and communication can be difficult. The successful outcome was the result of cooperation among federal, state, and local agencies, along with assistance from private pilots and fellow hikers. Berg's condition and the circumstances of his disappearance remain unclear, but officials confirmed he was alive and alert when found.