Two men have been found dead after setting off on an expedition to find the mythical Bigfoot creature, police in the US state of Oregon said.
The victims, aged 37 and 59 and from the city of Portland, were found in a wooded area of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington State, according to authorities.
The pair, who told relatives they would get home on Christmas Eve, appeared to have died of exposure after failing to prepare adequately for the trek.
They were reported missing at around 1am on Christmas Day, prompting a three-day search involving 60 volunteers and rescue experts who used dogs and drones.
Skamania County Sheriff’s Office said the pair’s family told police the men were likely in danger because they were looking for the so-called Sasquatch.
Gifford Pinchot National Forest covers a vast area of 1.3 million acres and its winter conditions can be challenging even for experienced hikers.
The men were found after the search area was narrowed down when CCTV footage led authorities to their car.
Bigfoot, generally described as a large two-legged human-like or ape-like creature, has featured widely in folk tales and unverified ‘sightings’ in America and Canada.
No scientifically accepted evidence of the creature’s existence has ever been uncovered, but surveys have found more than 1 in 10 Americans believe it is real.
The belief is thought to be most popular in the Pacific Northwest (which includes the state of Oregon) where Bigfoot is seen as a cultural icon.
Expiditions to find the Sasquatch are said to be a popular past-time among Bigfoot believers.
‘The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office extends our deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the loved ones lost in this tragic incident,’ authorities said.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
