Karina Chikitova – A 3 year old alone in the Siberian wilderness for 11 days

Karina Chikitova - A 3 year old alone in the Siberian wilderness for 11 days

 

When anybody is stranded alone in the Siberian wilderness they will find themselves in a very serious situation, with extreme cold and dangerous animals all over the place, surviving here would be a challenge for even the most experienced woodsmen. That’s what makes the story of Karina Chikitova even more amazing, as not only did she manage to survive on her own, but she did so at the age of 3 when she was too young to even understand how to do it.

 

On July 29, 2014, Karina was at home in her village in the Sakha region, a far northeastern section of Russia that’s very sparsely populated. Her father lived in a neighboring village and she decided to go and find him after being told he had gone to fight a wildfire in the forest.

 

She simply walked out of her house followed by her dog and headed in the direction she thought her father was. It goes without saying she got lost, but the odd thing is her mother didn’t realize until 4 days later for some reason. She finally raised the alarm and a small search team was formed, but due to how large the area is and how few people live there it wasn’t as big as it should have been.

 

The search team followed creeks and streams as they were the most likely places to find her, but rarely went into the forest unless escorted by armed guards as the region has a very high bear population. They didn’t find a single trace of her and everyone feared the worst, it had now been 11 days since she first disappeared and the search team knew the chances of a 3-year-old surviving alone were next to none.

 

Fortunately for Karina, her faithful animal companion Naida had followed her when she left the house and helped to keep her warm at night. She later told how she would sleep on him during the night and how he scared off wild animals for her, but as loyal as he was, he couldn’t help with food or shelter.

 

On the 11th day, Naida decided to try and reach for help, as Karina was too scared to walk away from the stream she was staying next to and remained hiding in the grass. Naida ran to a nearby hamlet where 8 people lived and barked at them until they followed him, which is when Artyom Borisov came across a bug-bitten and scared Karina.

 

He later gave the following statement to a local paper:

 

‘She was sitting deep in deergrass, completely silent.
‘I didn’t actually notice her. She saw me and stretched her arms forward.
‘I picked her up, she was so tiny, so light, like fluff. She didn’t have shoes on.
‘Her face, legs and arms were bitten to blood. She was dead scared.
‘Straight away she asked for water and food, and burst into tears.
‘To be honest I could hardly hold back tears, too.’

 

Karina was taken straight to a hospital and treated for her bug bites and malnourishment, and apart from being quite shaken up and scared was otherwise in surprisingly good condition. She quickly made a full recovery and is now working hard to become a professional ballerina.

 

 

(the statue dedicated to Karina and her dog outside Yakutsk Airport)

 

Her story amazed the nation who couldn’t believe that such a young girl could survive in such a hostile environment for 11 days, and she was praised for her bravery. Her story touched so many people that she now has a statue dedicated to her outside the Yakutsk Airport, and of course, it contains her furry friend and savior Naida.

 

5 True World War I Survival Stories

5 True World War I Survival StoriesWorld War I (1914–1918) was a conflict marked by unimaginable hardship, heroism, and resilience. Amid the horrors of trench warfare, mustard gas, and aerial bombardments, countless individuals displayed extraordinary courage and...

Bushcraft tips for Staying Bug-Free Outdoors

Bushcraft Hacks for Staying Bug-Free OutdoorsSpending time in nature can be incredibly rewarding, but nothing ruins an outdoor experience faster than an invasion of buzzing, biting insects. From mosquitoes and ticks to gnats and flies, bugs can make bushcraft camping...

Surviving the Hottest Village on Earth

Surviving the Hottest Village on EarthA Glimpse into Dallol, Ethiopia   (Part of the unique and mineral-filled landscape of Dallol)   Nestled in the northeastern reaches of Ethiopia lies Dallol, a remote settlement that holds the title of the hottest...

Life on Hadrian’s Wall

Life on Hadrian's WallHow the Romans Survived on the Frontier of the EmpireHadrian’s Wall was a defensive wall with numerous fortifications running across the entire width of Northern England. Built under Emperor Hadrian’s orders in AD 122, the wall stretched roughly...

5 short WW2 Survival stories

5 short WW2 Survival stories  1. The Pianist’s Secret Refuge   Władysław Szpilman, a Polish-Jewish pianist, survived the Warsaw Ghetto and Nazi occupation by hiding in the ruins of Warsaw. After narrowly escaping deportation to Treblinka, Szpilman went...

How did People Survive the Titanic

How did People Survive the Sinking of the TitanicThe sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912, is one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history. Known as the "unsinkable ship," the Titanic's collision with an iceberg and its subsequent sinking led to the...

The 20 biggest abandoned bunkers in the UK

The 20 biggest abandoned bunkers in the UKHere is a list of the 20 biggest abandoned bunkers in the UK, known for their historical significance, scale, or unique features. These bunkers span various periods, including World War II and the Cold War. While some remain...

Bushcraft winter foraging

Bushcraft winter foragingFew places on earth don't have wild foods to forage, even if you don't know how to find them. Foraging during the winter is the single most difficult time to find something to eat in the wild, as all the edible nuts, berries and leaves have...

How to choose a Bushcraft Knife

How to choose a Bushcraft KnifeThe knife is classed by many as the single most important tool you can have in a survival situation, and choosing the right one can make all the difference. Unlike general-purpose knives, bushcraft knives are crafted specifically for...

The 10 Worst Natural Disasters in History

The 10 Worst Natural Disasters in HistoryNatural disasters are something we will never be able to control as a species, and even though detection and rescue technologies are constantly advancing, we will forever be at the mercy of Mother Nature. The following are ten...