Key facts
- Kathryn Woessner, 68, was found alive after being trapped for three days in a remote muddy area.
- She went missing on June 3 and was last seen near Akeley, Minnesota.
- Two off-road riders, Adam Sandbeck and Mark Gravalin, discovered her by chance.
- The riders altered their usual route and explored unfamiliar trails.
- Woessner suffered sun exposure and dehydration during her ordeal.
- She was transported to a hospital for evaluation and treatment.
A Minnesota woman, Kathryn Woessner, 68, was found alive after being trapped for approximately three days in a remote, muddy area near Backus, Minnesota. Woessner had been reported missing on June 3 after disappearing while driving. Her vehicle became stuck in a deep mud-filled area, described by Woessner as similar to quicksand, leaving her exposed to the elements and suffering from sun exposure and dehydration.
Her discovery was made by chance by two off-road riders, Adam Sandbeck and Mark Gravalin, from West Fargo, North Dakota. The men explained that they deviated from their usual routes and decided to explore unfamiliar trails, which led them to Woessner. They noticed an unusual object in a mud-filled section of the trail, which turned out to be Woessner calling for help.
Sandbeck and Gravalin assisted Woessner out of the mud and immediately contacted emergency services. First responders arrived quickly and transported her to a nearby hospital for evaluation and treatment. The circumstances surrounding how Woessner traveled a significant distance from her last known location before becoming stranded, and how her vehicle ended up in the remote area, remain under investigation.