Missing Minnesota Woman, 68, Found Alive After Days Stuck in Mud Puddle
Kathryn Woessner, 68, of Alexandria, Minnesota, was found alive on June 6 after spending approximately three days nearly submerged in a muddy puddle roughly 80 miles from her home. She had been reported missing on June 3, and an official Endangered Missing Person Alert had been issued by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Her survival highlights both the dangers of rural vehicle breakdowns and the role of chance encounters by off-road recreationists.
Kathryn Jane Woessner, 68, was discovered on June 6, 2026, west of Backus, Minnesota, by two men — Adam Sandbeck and Mike Gravalin — who were riding an off-road vehicle on trails in the area. The pair spotted Woessner's black 2015 Chrysler Town & Country van stuck in a muddy area and then noticed what appeared to be a body in a puddle beside it; Woessner whispered 'Help me,' alerting them she was alive. According to Woessner, her van had become stuck and she slipped and fell into the puddle — roughly two feet deep — while attempting to free it, becoming trapped on her back in mud she described as feeling like quicksand. She had been there for approximately three days without any personal belongings, and had sustained serious sunburn to her face. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension had issued an Endangered Missing Person Alert listing her last known location near the intersection of Hwy 64 and Hwy 87 in southern Hubbard County. Sandbeck and Gravalin pulled her free and called 911, and she was subsequently transported to Essentia Health–St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd due to her medical conditions.
What's missing
The sources do not clarify the nature of the pre-existing medical conditions that necessitated hospitalization, nor do they provide an update on Woessner's condition following her admission to the hospital.
How coverage differed
Both outlets reported the core facts consistently. ABC News emphasized the rescuers' firsthand account and Woessner's physical condition, while NBC News provided additional geographic detail — noting she was found roughly 80 miles from her home — and included a direct quote from rescuer Adam Sandbeck that added emotional immediacy to the account.
What different sources said
Missing woman found alive after being stuck in mud puddle for days
- NBC NewsLeft
Missing Minnesota woman found stuck in mud after 3 days
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