Woman stranded in forest rescued after mother dies seeking help, Idaho officials say

A hunter found the body of a woman who died while trying to find help for herself and her daughter stranded in an Idaho national forest, officials said.

But rescuers discovered the woman’s adult daughter, who has a mental disability, alive in their vehicle Nov. 5 in the Panhandle National Forest, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

The two Oregon women were reported missing Nov. 3 from Pendleton when they failed to reach their destination in Utah, the sheriff’s office said. They apparently became confused while following GPS instructions.

They apparently got lost in the 3.2 million-acre Panhandle National Forest northeast of Coeur d’Alene, where their vehicle broke down, the release said.

The mother, described by the sheriff’s office as “elderly,” tried to hike out for help but died of exposure. Her daughter stayed with the vehicle.

This story was originally published November 7, 2021 at 9:01 AM with the headline "Woman stranded in forest rescued after mother dies seeking help, Idaho officials say."