Richard Code (Toronto Police) Canadian Richard Code found dead after 'Survivorman

He was a fan of "Survivorman," but perhaps he should have read "Into the Wild." The Toronto Star reports a 41-year-old Canadian man was found dead on Wednesday after he trekked into the Ontario wilderness with only an armful of supplies, including matches, blanket, fishing tools and some cash.

articles.nydailynews.com...

So do you think you have what it takes to survive?

People this aint a game and trying to imitate one of the hardest thing you will ever do in your life. it takes years of knowledge and training to get to the point of what it means to survive.

Far too many people have unrealistic expectations when it comes to survivalism just go out and buy a bunch of crap and bam its going to be a cake walk.

When it comes to the real deal downloading and reading about bunch of material is useless without real practical experience and the key word is experience.

For those who watch tv and listens to the likes of Less Stroud,Cody lundin,dave canterberry and bear gryllis stop and think for crying out loud.

DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME1!! and if you really are that dense practice practice in controlled environments where help is only a phone call away.

survivalism will be one of the most hardest things you will ever do never forget that fact and if your not up to the challenge dont even bother or you will end up 6 feet under.

reply to post by neo96


The idiot evidently didn't learn anything from watching the show.

This is a bit misleading. This guy wasn't some novice who decided to go attempt to survive after watching Survivorman. He was an experienced woodsman, having taken these trips often. So hold the comments like the one under the OP.

The article states he died of hypothermia, which is one of the fastest ways to die in the wilderness, killing you even faster than lack of water. If he were prepared, I do not see how this could have happened. He had the materials necessary to start a fire, and he most likely had a blanket and appropriate clothing. How then did this happen?

The only thing I could think of, since he had no injuries, was that he went out without the proper clothing. I don't know if the wood was wet, so he couldn't start a fire, or if he just thought he would be okay and stay warm enough. Once hypothermia sets in you begin shivering, and by the time you get to the end of the 2nd and start of the 3rd stage, you do not think clearly anymore. Eventually you will stop shivering, and death comes not long afterward. Tragic, but unnecessary imo.

It could have been suicide. Maybe he went out and allowed himself to die of hypothermia.

Originally posted by josh2009s
reply to post by neo96

 

The idiot evidently didn't learn anything from watching the show.

Neither would anyone, really. Les Stroud goes out for only a week, with a helicopter nearby that can come for him usually, walkie talkies to call them and all that #, even if he says he doesn't on camera, and then what does he "survive" on? He makes a #ty camp near a water source and then proceeds to spend the entire week finding a handful of berries, a caterpillar and a twig, and chowing down.

He isn't "surviving" on these pitiful meals, he is simply surviving off of body fat and doing as little as possible during that week to save energy.

Survivorman is a great show to get people interested in the subject of survival, but in reality, if you are in that kind of a situation, you are likely to die. Some lucky few may escape with their lives but it's all circumstancial.

Originally posted by JiggyPotamus
This is a bit misleading. This guy wasn't some novice who decided to go attempt to survive after watching Survivorman. He was an experienced woodsman, having taken these trips often. So hold the comments like the one under the OP.

The article states he died of hypothermia, which is one of the fastest ways to die in the wilderness, killing you even faster than lack of water. If he were prepared, I do not see how this could have happened. He had the materials necessary to start a fire, and he most likely had a blanket and appropriate clothing. How then did this happen?

The only thing I could think of, since he had no injuries, was that he went out without the proper clothing. I don't know if the wood was wet, so he couldn't start a fire, or if he just thought he would be okay and stay warm enough. Once hypothermia sets in you begin shivering, and by the time you get to the end of the 2nd and start of the 3rd stage, you do not think clearly anymore. Eventually you will stop shivering, and death comes not long afterward. Tragic, but unnecessary imo.

Agreed. It could happen to anyone, the real world is a very dangerous place and as the OP said, this is not a game.

I feel for the guy, I truly do. Why he is being linked to Survivorman and slandered after his death (or maybe this is a case of libel, ask a lawyer) I don't know. As you say it seems he had plenty of experience at this regardless of his interest in that show.

But I do think Les Stroud is a bit misleading with this show, he rarely explains to people just how brutal and unforgiving it is out there.

However, the information he provided has definately helped people, same with Bear Grylls, who's fraudulent, staged television show saved a kid's life (at least one person, verified.)
www.dailymail.co.uk...

don't forget bear grylls, he managed to cross the sahara desert by drinking a quarter of a canteen of his own urine and 3 drops of water he squeezed out of some dirt.

Originally posted by JiggyPotamus
This is a bit misleading. This guy wasn't some novice who decided to go attempt to survive after watching Survivorman. He was an experienced woodsman, having taken these trips often. So hold the comments like the one under the OP.

The article states he died of hypothermia, which is one of the fastest ways to die in the wilderness, killing you even faster than lack of water. If he were prepared, I do not see how this could have happened. He had the materials necessary to start a fire, and he most likely had a blanket and appropriate clothing. How then did this happen?

Just a guess:" He didn't recognize the conditions or the onset of hypothermia until his hands became useless before trying to light a fire.

Originally posted by JiggyPotamus
The only thing I could think of, since he had no injuries, was that he went out without the proper clothing. I don't know if the wood was wet, so he couldn't start a fire, or if he just thought he would be okay and stay warm enough. Once hypothermia sets in you begin shivering, and by the time you get to the end of the 2nd and start of the 3rd stage, you do not think clearly anymore. Eventually you will stop shivering, and death comes not long afterward. Tragic, but unnecessary imo.

Why would he take cash? Is there a walmart in the wilderness? Oh wait...

Dying of hypothermia is far easier (even in Summer) if you fail to stay dry. It can also make starting a fire extremely difficult. Though he may have been an "experienced" outdoorsman he was not an "experienced survivalist" which apparently he was trying to emulate by going in to the bush with only minimal gear.
He had a blanket but what kind? Had it been made of wool he would probably still be alive since wool retains it's insulating value even when wet.
Why didn't he build a shelter? Even with no tools you can build a debris hut and stay fairly dry.
Many questions remain and will probably stay unanswered.
Suffice it to say that he did not have the adequate skill set to go off in to the bush with minimal equipment.
Sad fact is, this could have been nearly any of us regardless of how much training you have had or books you have read.
Even if you have survival skills honed to near perfection it is foolish to wander off without taking the necessary gear for back up, just in case.

This man paid with his life and I certainly hope others will learn from his dearly-bought experience.

reply to post by JiggyPotamus


I agree... I don't think we're getting the whole story here, he was experienced in survival?
The facts just don't add up for me, anyone who knows about survival can tell you the very nature of the exercise is to LIVE on limited means. There had to be other factors that aren't apparent.

Article here says:

Code had taken many other similar trips and one friend said he was generally well-prepared. "He'd have his emergency metal blanket, he'd have his special utility knife set," Peter Watt told The Globe and Mail.

This article:

He included a map with his GPS coordinates as well as a checklist of what materials he brought, which included a multi-tool, an axe, matches, a lighter, an emergency blanket, fishing tools, a compass, a survival book, maps and some cash. He did not use a cellphone.

In each of those articles they really stress that just watching a television show does not substitute for real live experience, and that those shows don't promote realistic expectations. I definitely have to agree there...

BUT, it wasn't his first trip!

Conspiracy theory time:
Who did he peeve off?
Was it a cover-up of some sort?
Is this a horrible 'warning' for people expecting an apocalyptic event within the next few years?

Still perplexed on this one...

There is no place for the minimalist mindset in the North.

I would expect to carry no less than 55# in summer and 60# of gear in winter. Even with excellent equipment and supplies, just falling asleep before an arctic blast could be all she wrote.

Originally posted by randomname
don't forget bear grylls, he managed to cross the sahara desert by drinking a quarter of a canteen of his own urine and 3 drops of water he squeezed out of some dirt.

And a cool shower and daily gallons he drank from the trucks following with all his stuff in between filming. After he made his cozy bed on the ground in the sand../cut...nice bed in luxury tent set up by crew for the night.

I'm with Shadow. Living in the Pacific Northwest I have come learn some "rules" don't apply. Some methods are applicable to most areas and other climates/locations. While others require much more gear and ability to even have the hope of survival. Without first hand knowledge of how and what happened, it is impossible to know exactly what went wrong.

For instance, I have lived most of my life coastal / inland areas where rain is measured by the inch(s) per storm and can range up to ten feet per winter. It has been my experience even a as a pre-teenager wood is literally soaked and fireproof....no matter where you look or are supposed to find it. So much for the "guidelines" of finding dry wood.

Being an avid outdoors man is not the same as being well versed and trained in survival. Even then what could go wrong, can go wrong and will go wrong. From my own experience I would say He was in the transitional stage of between outdoors man and survivalist. The point where the skills are there, but not ready for the totally unexpected.

It is sad he lost his life. I must admire this man for his courage and love of the craft. He died doing something he loved. If you have ever spent any time at all out in the wilds cold, hungry, wet and pressed to your limits.... you have to love what your doing or else there wouldn't be another trip to follow.

With that said, I do not endorse pressing yourself to the severe limit, venturing out with an adequate safety net, way out, or taking your life at risk. Mother Nature is a beautiful and warm being, while also having a cold hearted and cruel streak...if Mother Nature wants to take you .... your owned and gone no matter what the gear or experience level.

Darwin plays a part in this sort of thing...these thinned-gene specimens wont last long...if it isnt Jackass,or Punk'd its something stupid like imitating Survivorman...either way,all we can really hope for is that they dont breed before they depart themselves