Motorcyclist discovered alive but in 'bad shape' after using risky survival method before miracle rescue
An Idaho biker was found alive nearly a week after he went missing and revealed the risky survival method he used while lost in the wild until help arrived.
Zachary Demoss, 24, was on a Western motorcycle trip with two other bikers when they split up and Demoss disappeared -- leaving his buddies concerned he was in serious trouble.
Then, officials received an SOS message from a Garmin inReach satellite communicator at 1.42am on August 16.
'The first message didn't state if there was an emergency and the second advised the missing biker had been found alive but was in bad shape,' the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office said.
'A later message from Garmin confirmed it was missing person Zachary Demoss.'
Zachary Demoss, 24, was discovered alive in a 'bad shape' by rescue crews after officials received an SOS message from a Garmin inReach at 1.42am on August 16
Demoss was found at the Lost Creek Campground, near milepost 136 on Highway 12 and rushed to St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula for treatment.
He later revealed that he had survived all those days by drinking water from a creek nearby.
DeMoss had gone missing on August 11 after he went on a multistate Western bike trip with friends Devlin Zarn and Aly Phan.
He was riding his 2000 Kawasaki Vulcan motorcycle on Highway 12 in north Idaho the seasoned motorcyclist vanished.
The bike was later recovered off the road at Eagle Mountain Trailhead.
After he was rescued, the Sheriff's Office said: 'Sheriff Ulmer wants to thank everyone who helped in the search for Zachary, and we wish him the best on his recovery.'
In an image posted by his mother Ruth Rickenbacher, DeMoss can be seen alive and well as he surrounded by family and friends.
Rickenbacher also told well-wishers that he had been found by the parents of one of his best friends.
DeMoss had gone missing on August 11 after he went on a multistate Western bike trip with friends Devlin Zarn and Aly Phan
In an image posted by his mother Ruth Rickenbacher, DeMoss can be seen alive and well as he surrounded by family and friends
He was riding his 2000 Kawasaki Vulcan motorcycle on Highway 12 in north Idaho the seasoned motorcyclist vanished
She joyfully wrote: 'MY SON Zachary DeMoss has been found ALIVE!!! A miracle happened today. Thanks be to GOD!!! Going to Saint Patrick’s hospital now.
'GOD bless ALL the VOLUNTEERS, POLICE, IDAHO SEARCH and RESCUE, WESTERN STATES CATERPILLAR AND EMPLOYEES, SITETECH and EMPLOYEES family friends and especially the CAMPERS THAT FOUND HIM, AND GOD….MIRACLES HAPPEN he is great.
'The couple that found him was one of his best friends dad and mom.
'He said he heard Greg’s and Daniel Commons’ voice and when he opened his eyes he was so relieved.'
It remains unclear what had caused DeMoss to go missing while riding on the highway for days.
