Alec Luhn: US journalist found alive days after going missing on a hike in Norway
Ms Silchenko said she was grateful for the Norwegian rescue team for finding her husband, and was waiting to speak to a doctor about the extent of his injury. No further details about his rescue have been released. She previously described Mr Luhn as an experienced outdoorsman who had camped in in difficult weather conditions."Alec is basically obsessed with the Arctic," Ms Silchenko told CBS News. "He loves glaciers and snow, and he loves explorers."As a climate journalist, Mr Luhn has travelled extensively to document glaciers that are rapidly shrinking because of the effects of global warming."He's trying his best to go to the coldest countries," she said.He has previously reported for numerous outlets, including the BBC, The Atlantic, National Geographic, The New York Times, Scientific American, Time magazine, and CBS.Last year, he wrote for the BBC about Canada's "zombie" fires, which burn year round and are believed to be exacerbated by climate change.
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Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Moment missing British-based journalist is found alive in Norwegian mountains as rescuers reveal how he survived alone in the wilderness for five days
Lying stricken on a Norwegian mountainside, this is the moment a British-based American climate change reporter was rescued after almost week alone in the wilderness. Alec Luhn, 38, heard the helicopter flying around above him for several days but could not move because he has shattered his femur in a fall from a cliff in the Folgefonna National Park - home to three of gigantic glaciers. The Daily Mail understands that he managed to survive by drinking rainwater as it fell and two chocolate bars he had in his bag. 'He had nothing to drink before the rain came', one medical source said. Mr Luhn, who works the New York Times and the Guardian, was spotted because of his bright red coat. 'He had waved to them', police have said. His wife Viktoria Silchenko, an award-winning filmmaker, is flying to Norway today to see him in hospital. She said: 'I think it's a miracle. I'm so grateful to all the people who were involved in the rescue. It's the best day of my life'. His brother Brian, who lives in the United States, said: 'My brother Alec has been found by the rescue team. He's being flown to the hospital to be treated for a broken femur'. Alec was reported missing on Monday after failing to get on a flight back to the UK from Bergen, a city around 40 miles northwest of Folgefonna National Park, where Luhn was trekking. The national park is 136,000 acre and is home to one of the country's biggest glaciers. He was last heard from last Thursday afternoon, with his wife, telling the New York Times that he had texted her his itinerary. But following a massive search of the Nordic park, he was found with a serious leg injury, which he suffered the first day he set out, according to local rescuers. Geir Arne Sunde, the head of the local air ambulance service and trauma centre, said: 'He is seriously injured, but not critically injured.' The reporter somehow managed to survive his days-long ordeal with very little food. Luhn's rescue was something of a miracle, rescuers said. Stig Hope, head of the operations leadership team at Folgefonna and a Red Cross volunteer, said: 'I can't remember us finding someone alive after so many days. 'The search doesn't always end like this – but today, it did. It's a huge relief for everyone who's been part of the effort.' Local media reported that he was on holiday with his sister in the Nordic nation and decided to go out on a four-day hike on July 31 from an outdoor centre in Ullensvang on the northern edge of the park. A 30-strong volunteer search and rescue team, along with dogs, drones and police were all sent to find him. The operation was temporarily suspended, amid bad weather. Tatjana Knappen, an operations manager from Vestland police, said: 'Weather conditions started to get really bad around midnight. It was not reasonable to continue the search up in the mountains.' Local police said the Pulitzer Center Ocean Reporting Network fellow, a specialist in climate reporting, is an experienced mountain walker who was well-equipped. His wife reportedly said she had not expected to hear from him for a few days, owing to the spotting signal in the park. Silchenko added that it wasn't unusual for her husband to go on solo hikes. But she began worrying about him by Sunday, and alerted local authorities after he failed to make it back to his return flight on Monday. She said before his rescue: 'I just really want him back. I can't sleep or eat properly. It's very hard not to know anything.' Folgefonna National Park is known for being a popular challenge for hikers who fly in from all over the world to conquer the difficult terrain and admire its natural beauty. The climate reporter is no stranger to exotic destinations, having reported from oil fields in Texas, drought-stricken regions of Somalia and a research ship on the North Sea.
Scottish Sun
14 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
US journalist who vanished during solo hike in Norway is found ALIVE after ‘spending nearly a week in the wilderness'
He had missed his flight back to the UK on Monday, sparking a full-scale search MIRACLE SURVIVAL US journalist who vanished during solo hike in Norway is found ALIVE after 'spending nearly a week in the wilderness' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A UK-based journalist who vanished during a solo hike in Norway has been found alive after surviving five harrowing days alone with almost no food. Alec Luhn, an experienced mountain walker and seasoned climate reporter, was discovered deep in Folgefonna National Park with a broken leg. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Alec Luhn, 38, is an American-born reporter Credit: Facebook 2 Luhn was found alive after surviving five days alone with almost no food Credit: Instagram The 38-year-old had been missing since last week after setting out on a solo trek through the remote national park, home to one of Norway's largest glaciers. American-born Luhn had failed to board his return flight to the UK from Bergen on Monday, sparking a full-scale search. His wife, Emmy-winning journalist Veronika Silchenko, told The New York Times that she had received a text from Luhn on Thursday with his planned route but grew concerned when she didn't hear from him again. By Sunday, alarm bells were ringing — and when he missed his flight on Monday, she alerted authorities. 'I just really want him back. I can't sleep or eat properly. It's very hard not to know anything,' Silchenko said before the dramatic rescue. The rescue effort was suspended temporarily due to brutal weather conditions. Tatjana Knappen from Vestland police said: 'Weather conditions started to get really bad around midnight. 'It was not reasonable to continue the search up in the mountains.' But against all odds, Luhn was found alive by a 30-strong team of volunteers, police, drones and dogs. 'He is seriously injured, but not critically injured,' confirmed Geir Arne Sunde, head of the local air ambulance service and trauma centre. Luhn had suffered the leg injury on the first day of his hike but still managed to cling to life in the desolate 136,000-acre park. Stig Hope, a Red Cross volunteer and head of the operations team, said: 'I can't remember us finding someone alive after so many days. 'The search doesn't always end like this – but today, it did. 'It's a huge relief for everyone who's been part of the effort.' Luhn, who has written for heavyweight outlets including The New York Times, had been holidaying with his sister before heading out solo on July 31 from an outdoor centre in Ullensvang. His wife noted it wasn't unusual for him to take off-grid solo hikes, and he was believed to be well-equipped. The journalist's extensive career has taken him from the oil fields of Texas to drought-hit Somalia and aboard climate research ships in the North Sea. A fellow of the Pulitzer Center Ocean Reporting Network, Luhn has built a reputation for fearless field reporting. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
