Janelle Banda: Missing camper found alive, rescued from 'Edge of the World'
Janelle Banda: Video shows lost camper's rescue
Officials have released new video of a helicopter crew who rescued Janelle Banda, a 32-year-old camper who was lost in the Arizona High Country for days before she was found safe.
COCONINO COUNTY, Ariz. - A former Arizona State University student who was reported missing after she was last seen leaving a campground in northern Arizona has been found alive, authorities confirmed.
The backstory:
Janelle Banda, 32, was last seen at 10:30 p.m. on June 13 after walking away from her campsite in Coconino County. The sheriff's office says she was in an area known as the "Edge of the World," near the end of Woody Mountain Road overlooking Bear Sign Canyon.
It was believed that Banda descended into a nearby side canyon, but she did not return to her campsite. She was wearing dark-colored jogging pants and a black and white hooded sweatshirt.
What we know:
Crews began searching overnight for Banda, but she was not initially found. The search continued on Saturday, but crews could not locate Banda. At this point, the Coconino County Sheriff's Office says additional resources were called in to help with the search.
"The operation continued with personnel from the Arizona DPS Air Rescue, Coconino, Yavapai, and Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue units," CCSO said. "Despite these efforts, no further signs of the missing woman were discovered, and plans were made to intensify the search on Monday."
On Monday, crews resumed their search for Banda, and she was found at around 12 p.m.
Janelle Banda was found alive and rescued days after she disappeared from her northern Arizona campsite. (Coconino County Sheriff's Office)
"The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit responded with a Super Huey helicopter and performed a hoist rescue," CCSO said. "The woman was flown to the Sedona Airport, where Sedona Fire Department personnel transported her to Verde Valley Medical Center for further treatment."
What they're saying:
The family has been praying for the best these past few days, but preparing for the worst. Now, they're just counting down the minutes until they are reunited with Janelle.
"It's a lot. It's so heavy, but now, it's a good heavy," said her sister, Sarah Banda.
Her family is sharing feelings of relief and joy after hearing she was found alive and safe three days after she vanished in the Coconino County wilderness.
Janelle was camping with her father David last week when, for unknown reasons, she wandered away from the campsite on Friday night.
Her disappearance led to a desperate search. Her parents shared their anguish over the unknown, but Sarah says her family kept their faith even as the days started to pass.
"Even when we felt at our lowest, right, usually by the end of the day you feel it, right? It's dark, and we know she's alone, but we were like, wherever she is, we will find her," Sarah said.
Sarah says her understanding is that Janelle was found by someone who was searching for her by rappelling near the bottom of Bear Sign Canyon.
The extent of Janelle's injuries is unknown at this time, but Sarah says the rescue and upcoming reunion are all that matters.
"I want to see her so badly. I was told that my dad got to talk to her, and she's saying that she just wants to see her family," Sarah said.
She says this nightmarish ordeal has only strengthened her love for her sister.
"Truly, you're thinking, how do you go, for me, how do I go about without my sister? But now that she's here, I get to appreciate every moment that I have with her even more so than ever before," Sarah said.
Sarah did say her family is forever grateful for the prayers and various offers to help search.
What we don't know:
There are still a lot of details we are working to find out, including if Janelle fell, how far she might've fallen and the extent of her injuries.
Map of Edge of the World