Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Dog helps Alaska woman survive 3 nights in cold

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska State Troopers say a small dog helped a woman survive nearly three nights in below-zero temperatures after her snowmobile broke down along the Denali Highway.

Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters says 57-year-old Vivian Mayo, of Cantwell, was able to share body heat with her dog, Elvis, and Peters says the dog probably helped save Mayo's life as temperatures reached minus 20.

Mayo also burned her snowmobile to stay warm.

Mayo and the dog were found huddled under the wreckage at 1 a.m. Wednesday. Mayo was suffering from severe hypothermia.

She was traveling to get help to find her husband, 61-year-old Scott Mayo, who was overdue from a trapping trip. Family members alerted troopers Tuesday.

Scott Mayo was found in good condition four hours after searchers found his wife.

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