A Queensland man who survived 18 days in a remote area says he went missing after trying to take a shortcut back home from a canteen.
Robert Weber was initially reported missing after his empty Ford Falcon was found stuck on a road near Kilkivan, west of Gympie, on January 15.
What should have been a two-and-a-half hour drive turned into a two-and-a-half-week tragedy after deciding to shut down and change the route from the highway to avoid traffic.
What Happened?
“It turned out to be detrimental because that road went nowhere. When it says ‘no through road’ that is what it means,” Weber told ABC TV on Monday.
The 58-year-old man said his car was wrecked and three days later his water supply ran out and he set off on foot for water.
He ate wild mushrooms, drank water from the pond, and slept on the ground outside.
Weber told Channel 7 that the experience was “lonely”, and said that one night when it was raining, he “lost it”.
“I had no place to hide. I passed. My body could not cope, ”he said. “That was part of her grief.
Rescue Success
Meanwhile, police and State Emergency Service staff searched for days, roaming forests, rivers and dams to find any Weber sign.
As time went on, hopes of finding him alive were fading and the police finally decided to stop the search on Thursday.
However, the owner of the place, who is already a member of the local parliament, Tony Perrett, found Weber sitting under a tree by the dam at 9am on Sunday morning.
Weber said the rescue was “one of the happiest moments of my life”.
He was taken to hospital for treatment but in general, was safe and sound.
His dog has not been found as I write this report.
