A woman has shared her survival story of being lost in the mountains for two days and surviving thanks to an imaginary friend.
Haley Zega, now 27 years old, had to wander through the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas alone when she was just six years old.
Haley became separated from her grandparents during a hike on April 29, 2001, in the Whittaker Point area.
She spent the next 52 hours alone, without food, water, or shelter, trying to find her way out of the wilderness.
She credits her imaginary friend, Alicia, for keeping her calm during the ordeal as she navigated along the Buffalo River, hoping it would lead her to a town.
Meanwhile, a massive search was underway, with over a thousand people looking for her.
After she got lost, Haley says she shouted her parents' names and phone numbers, and threw sand into the air to attract the helicopters overhead.
At night, Haley swam to an open rock in the middle of the river to sleep, believing she needed to be out in the open to get spotted.
The following day, she continued along the riverbank, and spent the second night out in the open, finding a small cave to sleep in, where she hallucinated family members in the trees and a valley of flamingos.
She was eventually found by two men, William Jeff Villines and Lytle James, who were searching away from the main search area.
They gave her a bottle of Diet Coke and chocolate pudding and carried her on the back of their mules to safety.
When they came out of the woods, they were at the bottom of the mountain, and the police drove her to the top. The sheriff then told Haley's mother, "there's a little girl who wants her mama."
Despite the ordeal, Haley says she wasn't traumatized and has a positive outlook on life.
She said: "I've never really been a panicker and in extreme life or death situations I'm calm and in problem-solving mode and that's how I felt throughout.
"From the minute I was lost I had this imaginary friend, Alicia, who kept me calm and on task and was nothing but a positive presence for me whilst I was missing.
"There were times I didn't want to be out there and the nights were pretty difficult being alone in the dark, with nothing. I was not having a good time, but it never occurred to me that I wouldn't be okay.
"I think if I'd been any younger I would have sat down and cried and had I been older I would have known how serious the situation was and not to move.
"The place I went missing is probably the most rural area between the Appalachian Mountains and the Rocky Mountains."
She shared her experience with her followers on TikTok and attracted great attention.
She said: "I think I have a very concrete sense of the power of community and the kindness of strangers. I tend to be optimistic in believing things will work out in the end.
"I genuinely believe people are willing to help and it's helped me keep a positive attitude when things haven't gone well in the past. I'm very adventurous - it's not stopped me from taking risks and I've had massive adventures.
"I don't let fear rule, and it's caused me to treat people with kindness. Whilst I would never would want to go through it again and wouldn't wish it upon anyone, I would say it's had a positive impact on my life overall.
"I try to show, yes, I was a missing child, but that's not all I am, I'm not defined by it.”
