It happens. There use to be a joke during the first big DC build out phase that went like if you're ever going into the wilderness take a 1ft length of fiber optic cable with you. If you get lost bury it and a back hoe operator will appear and sever it within an hour. You can get a ride back with them.

reminds me of https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/stranded-man-cut...

>A man stranded in the bush in northern Saskatchewan was rescued last week after chopping down four power poles — knocking out electricity to surrounding communities. [...]

>But he had an axe and he knew SaskPower would have to check the downed line, so he went to work.

I remember a story from an acquaintance working in construction. In one case they had to dug up right where a fiber optic ran, so they had cleared it with its operator and waited for their go-ahead. And waited. And waited, until the boss said something to the effect of 'start digging, we have a schedule to keep'...

Nothing like summoning the North American Fiber-Seeking Backhoe! https://imgur.com/a/DZNhdIG

I think it happened many times to electrical lines due to lost campers.