Mark Young, 76, a Vietnam War veteran, survived about five days lost near Bloody Basin, Arizona, after taking a wrong trail on April 16. He sheltered under trees, carried basic survival gear, and—after running out of water—drank from a canteen filled with his urine to stay alive. Search teams and volunteers combed difficult terrain and heard faint cries on April 20; one of Young’s sons found him roughly six miles from his vehicle. Rescuers hoisted him from the canyon and airlifted him to a hospital, culminating in an emotional family reunion.
76-Year-Old Vietnam Veteran Survives Five Days Lost Near Bloody Basin — Sons Find Him After Faint Cries
Mark YoungCredit: Yavapai County Sheriff's Office
Mark Young, a 76-year-old Vietnam War veteran, has spoken about surviving several days lost in the rugged Arizona wilderness before his sons and rescue teams located him. Young vanished after extending a trip for a wedding and setting out on a solo camping excursion near Bloody Basin on April 16.
How the Search Unfolded
Young's family reported him missing the evening of April 17, and search efforts began around 9 p.m. local time. Search teams found his rented Kia SUV on April 18 but were unable to locate him. Volunteers and multiple agencies—including the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office and the Maricopa County FOX 1 helicopter—scoured dozens of miles of punishing terrain for days.
Lost On The Trail
In an interview with NBC affiliate KPNX, Young said he became disoriented after taking the wrong trail.
"I blundered. I got off the wrong trail," he recalled.> He sheltered each night under cedar and pine trees and carried basic survival gear: a military compass, canteens, lighters and water-purification pills.
Running Out Of Water
On the third day he ran out of water and, desperate to survive, urinated into a canteen and drank from it. Young credited his faith and memories of family and past near-death experiences with helping him persevere.
Finding Him
Searchers reported hearing faint cries for help on April 20, though wind and the canyon’s jagged terrain made it difficult to pinpoint their source. Around 1 p.m., authorities received a text that one of Young’s sons had located his father roughly a six-mile hike from the parked vehicle. The FOX 1 helicopter, already in the area, moved in immediately.
Young initially did not recognize the voices and shouted back because he was exhausted. When he realized his sons were there, the reunion was emotional.
"It was incredible. I mean, we wept and hugged," he told KPNX.
Rescue And Aftermath
Rescuers hoisted Young from the canyon floor and airlifted him to a hospital. The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office thanked all responding agencies and volunteers; officials noted that searchers had confronted wildlife and hazardous conditions during the operation, including sightings of a mountain lion with a cub, a black bear, and at least one rattlesnake.
The family expressed gratitude for the coordinated effort. One child who helped in the search told authorities, "My dad's life was worth saving, and your teams showed that." The sheriff’s office said the reunion between the Young family and rescuers was a deeply emotional moment.
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