Girl survives 12 days alone in the Siberian wilderness

In 2014, a young girl named Karina Chikitova lost her way in the vast Siberian wilderness of Russia. At just four years old, she followed her father into the woods, becoming separated and unaccompanied. For 12 nights, Karina faced the harsh realities of surviving alone in a brutal environment. During her time lost, she relied on her instincts to find food, consuming berries to sustain herself. To survive the cold, she slept on beds of grass and found solace in her dog, Naida, who was her only companion during this ordeal. The experience was traumatic, with her days marked by fear and uncertainty, as evidenced by her later recollections of the events. After nine nights of solitude, Naida left in search of help, a crucial turning point in Karina’s rescue. A rescuer named Artyom Borisov discovered Karina after she was reported missing. He described finding the young girl nestled in tall grass, weak and fearful, yet clinging to hope. Upon spotting him, Karina reached out, and he noted how small and fragile she appeared, as she was barefoot and had endured mosquito bites that left her arms and legs bleeding. The event gained significant media attention, leading to a public fascination with her story. Years later, Karina reflected on her experience during an interview on Russian state television at the age of 14. She expressed her desire to become a doctor, indicating a longing for stability and purpose in her life. Despite becoming a symbol of survival and resilience, she shied away from the spotlight, stating that she doesn’t particularly enjoy the attention that followed her ordeal. Nevertheless, her story has inspired books and films, highlighting the extraordinary circumstances a child endured in a merciless wilderness. As she looks back, her memories of the adventure are sparse, with her earliest clear recollections beginning from when she was seven years old, focusing primarily on school rather than her time spent lost.