Making this simple mistake stranded a wildlife photographer in the Alaskan bush. If you go camping, you need to know this!

Taking pictures for a living can be a really rewarding career—until you get left to die in the Alaskan wilderness. Wilderness photographer, Carl McCunn, decided to spend the summer of 1981 photographing the wildlife while camping. When his plane did not return to pick him up at the end of summer, a miss-communication left him stranded with no way out.

A state trooper flew over his campsite in late August, a month after he was expected to return. He sighted McCunn, who raised his right hand up, shaking his fist in celebration, he was saved! Unfortunately, that gesture is the signal for "everything is fine, don't worry about me!" The ranger promptly flew away.

McCunn spent the winter attempting to hunt and stretch his provisions, but eventually ran out of food by Thanksgiving and committed suicide with his rifle. His worried friends and family sent searchers out in January, who found his body and a 100-page diary that recounted the entire ordeal. The entry on the day of his near rescue read: "I recall raising my right hand, shoulder high and shaking my fist on the plane's second pass. It was a little cheer - like when your team scored a touchdown or something. Turns out that's the signal for 'ALL O.K. DO NOT WAIT!' Man, I can't believe it!"

(Source)