A pair of canoeists from Washington state survived six days lost in northern Manitoba by eating insects and plants before being found by rescuers last week.

The husband and wife planned to paddle on the Churchill River from The Pas and arrive in Churchill, Man., on Sept. 1. 

When they didn't show up on schedule, RCMP notified the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA).

Search teams didn't expect to find the pair alive, CASARA vice-president Kevin Choy told CBC News, but they were spotted by a rescue plane Friday afternoon.

The couple, whose names were not released, took a wrong turn and became disoriented, said Choy.

They had done a lot of research on surviving in the Canadian wilderness, which contributed to their ability to survive the ordeal.

"They were … surviving off of vegetation they could find, such as water lilies. They ate a water bug, they found different kinds of mushroom," he said.

"They did not have any type of weapon or firearm with them to shoot any of the animals around that area, so that was what they really had to face."

The couple also endured some cold nights, with the mercury falling below freezing.

When they were found, they were very hungry and tired, Choy said.

"From what they told us, there was a considerable amount of bugs, especially black flies," Choy said. "The mosquito netting was very important."