Australian police say it’s a ‘’ miracle’’ that the pair survived without water for several days in a remote area. They were lost in the Northern Territory outback.
On Friday, Mahesh Patrick, 14, and Shaun Emitja, 21, were found separately near Alice Springs. According to the source, they both were exhausted and dehydrated.
Police say they were fine, except for dehydration and exhaustion. Last Monday, their vehicle had become bogged while on a four-hour drive through a remote area.
What happens next?
The couple was unable to pull out their car. They stayed with the vehicle overnight. In the morning, they started looking for water.
According to authorities, they walked almost 5km (3.1 miles) to a hill before realizing they were going the wrong way.
Northern Territory police said,
‘’ They thought they were going in a direction that would take them adjacent to the Sandover Highway, referencing the single main road that travels north-south through the region. ‘’
The couple was reported missing and didn’t come back. According to police, the pair camped for a night at the hill and found a water source.
Acting commander Kirsten Engels said, ‘’ we believe that the last time they had water could have been on Tuesday.’’
However, how and why the split is unknown. They did it for unspecified reasons. Mahesh walked about 35km on his own, and he was found on Friday night.
Acting Cdr Engels says ‘’ miraculously, he was located by community members who reunited him with his community and family.’’
Meanwhile, Mr. Emitja was found on Saturday night.
Authority advice to people
Indeed, ‘’ They are extremely lucky to be alive- we all know how harsh it is out there’’ the police said.
Moreover, after this incident, authorities advise others to stay in their cars rather than roaming around in search of water.
If they are stranded in the outback- staying with the car will helps as it provides some shelter and protection from the elements and is a larger target for search helicopters to figure out the location.
Unfortunately , people traveling to Australian remote places should carry water and food with them. The authority advised taking four liters of water per person per day.
Meanwhile, With the efforts of the community and police, the couples were found and taken care of. However, it is a lesson for many and they must stay with their vehicles. Otherwise, it is tough to find water in a remote area without getting lost.
