Eric LeMarque's Harrowing Tale of Survival Subject of New Film

Armed with minimal clothing, a dying cellphone, a few pieces of gum, a pack of wet matches, an MP3 player and a bag of meth, LeMarque was in for the fight of his life.
“My reckless addictions weren’t as strong as my human will was to survive,” LeMarque said. “People always tell me, ‘I’m not sure I could have done it,’ but I alway say, ‘Don’t underestimate human will.’”
LeMarque did all he could to survive. He ate tree bark and pine needles. He drank his own urine. He ate bits of his own flesh that were peeling off from frostbite. He dug trenches in the snow to try to hide from the elements. He shoved foliage into his clothes as an extra — albeit scratchy and uncomfortable — layer of insulation. He even dumped what was left of his meth stash to utilize the plastic bag as a container to melt snow into consumable water.
For more than a week, LeMarque had to not only conquer the harsh elements, but he had to conquer his own demons and addictions. Finally, on the eighth day — Friday the 13th — salvation in the form of a helicopter came down from above and saved LeMarque, who was on the brink of death.
Frostbite took both of his legs from below the knee, but he still had his life. He was given a second chance to turn things around, to stop doing drugs, to be a better son, to be a better person.
“It’s so silly I associated fun with substance and artificial highs that literally now have swept my legs out from underneath me,” he said. “Part of me had to die so I could live again. I had to put the boy to bed and the man in me learned to ask for help and seek the resources to survive.”

LeMarque has taken full advantage of his second life. He hasn’t done drugs since. He is a motivational speaker and published author. A proud father. A loving husband. A better man.
“Thank God for second chances and thank God we can find redemption again,” he said. “To find your way out of that darkness is really rewarding. Now I live my life for other people who can draw inspiration, whether it’s from my time on the mountain, what happened to me after with losing my legs or, of course, the addiction.
“I think it has so much for so many. I believe that life must be about relationships, a big portion of it, at least.”
LeMarque has ventured back into the mountains that caused him so much pain and took so much from him; in fact, his first time back on a snowboard was one year to the day of his rescue. He’s said the experience changed his life for the better, putting things into perspective.
Now he shares his love of hockey and snowboarding — passions of his that he did alone most of his life — with his wife, Hope, and sons, Nicholas and Zach.
“It’s so neat to have us all on a chairlift together looking at the beautiful world we all live,” LeMarque said. “To share life now is extremely important. When I was addicted to the two powders — the one that fell from the sky and the one I sniffed up my nose — I was by myself. It was all in my own mind and my own self. I didn’t enjoy it as much as I do now sharing it with other people, especially those I love and care about most.”