About Careers Internship MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Survival Saga of a British Teen in the Australian Outback

by Savitha C Muppala on February 19, 2013 at 9:47 AM
 Survival Saga of a British Teen in the Australian Outback

Read this ordeal of a British backpacker who got lost in the Australian outback for three days and almost died due to scorching heat and dehydration.

He somehow pulled along for three days drinking his own urine and contact lens solution before he could be rescued.

Advertisement

Sam Woodhead, 18, had started working at the Queensland cattle station two weeks back. One day, he set out for a jog from the remote Queensland cattle station and somehow got lost in the outback.

At scorching Australian temperatures, it is a miracle he is alive, courtesy the contact lens solution he found in his bag. He had also used some of his clothing like his shorts to create an SOS sign. He was spotted by rescuers about three miles away from the ranch and was almost dying.
Advertisement

Sam's kidneys were not functioning properly at the time of recue due to dehydration and he has lost about two stones in weight. Since he had run out of contact lens fluid, he had tried to drink his own urine. Fortunately, the helicopter had rescued him barely an hour before what would have an extremely life-threatening situation.

Mike Curtin from Queensland State Police said: "He was quite disorientated but, you know, his body seemed to bounce back fairly quickly once he knew that obviously he was located and so forth and he was quite happy of the fact that someone had found him."

Cautioning people about the harsh Australian climate and the importance of being informed while travelling or working in remote Australian Outback, he said, "It's one of those things and I think there's a lesson to be learned here from any of these young fellows who do take, or young boys and girls, who take jobs in areas like this isolated part of the state, to be careful, to be safe, and prepare. And never take the harshest Australian environment and our climatic conditions here for granted."



Source: Medindia
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Latest General Health News

Hawk Data Pro: An Essential One Health Surveillance Tool for Rabies Management
Implementing the Hawk Data Pro system as a passive surveillance tool enabled us to record an ongoing rabies outbreak within a major Indian metropolis.
Wild Poliovirus Resurfaces in Pakistan
The Pakistan Ministry has announced the commencement of a nationwide polio vaccination campaign beginning on October 2, aiming to immunize more children.
US Woman Loses All Limbs in Fish-Related Bacterial Outbreak
In a tragic incident, a woman in the US experienced the loss of all her limbs as a result of a bacterial outbreak linked to the consumption of contaminated fish.
NIH Launches the First In-Human Universal Flu Vaccine Trial
FluMos-v2, a unique universal influenza vaccine candidate, undergoing a phase 1 trial at NIH, increases recipients' immunity against many influenza viruses.
Global Polio Eradication Initiative Assesses Vaccination Strategies in Pakistan
In Pakistan, the polio campaign focuses on more than 270,000 children under the age of five years, residing in areas with insufficient vaccine coverage.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
MediBotMediBot
Greetings! How can I assist you?MediBot
×

Survival Saga of a British Teen in the Australian Outback Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests