13 days, lost in a national park in Australia… These are the last days of Hadi Nazari, this 23-year-old student. Having gone hiking before joining his friends, he had not given any sign of sight since December 26 before being found by a group of hikers on January 8, in good health. The student managed to survive by finding shelter in a cabin, drinking water from streams and eating two cereal bars. A little miracle to start the year, which is not the only one. Extreme survivors often hit the headlines because their stories seem unimaginable. Thanks to a strong survival instinct, patience and mischievous ideas, they were able to survive the impossible. 20 Minutes tells you.
A small well on the banks of a dry river for this child
This is the case of Tinotenda. At just 8 years old, this young boy managed to survive no less than five days, alone, in a game reserve in Zimbabwe. Matusadona National Park is home to impressive wildlife, including lions, elephants, zebras and hippos. The region is also marked by difficult climatic conditions, with periods of drought. But young Tinotenda is visibly full of resources. According to authorities, he dug a small well on the banks of a dry river to collect water. During these five days of survival, the child also sought shelter on rocks to protect himself from lions and other dangerous animals. Finally, to feed himself, he ate fruits available to him in nature.
30 days hiding in bear shelters
On the United States side, an American at the dawn of his forty years came close to death thirty days after an ordinary running race. While he had planned a simple outing with his dog in the North Cascades National Park, he got lost last July. Dressed in simple shorts, the walker was carrying an old map and his cell phone, which died on the second day. To have a chance of surviving, on the third day, he had tasked his dog with finding help. The animal was located near a river. Local authorities, alerted to the disappearance by the ultramarathon runner’s family in early August, found the missing man’s car and his wallet in the passenger compartment. To survive, this musician did not hesitate to settle in shelters usually used by bears. He fed on “disgusting” berries and a large mushroom. He was also able to find water to hydrate himself. His health began to deteriorate on August 30. Convinced he was going to die, he screamed one last time in the hope that someone would hear him. This was the case. He was able to be saved in time.
-A caver stuck in the storm finds refuse on a cliff
In France, on October 15, as the country prepared to be swept away by Storm Kirk, a Belgian speleologist defied the red alert issued in the Alpes-Maritimes department to venture into the Roya gorges. The adventurer found himself stuck, surprised by the rising waters. Alerted, the rescuers tried to reach the canyon but the rains made intervention impossible. The police still found his abandoned bag containing canyoning equipment, a waterproof container with a phone and food. After four days, a Civil Security helicopter located the unfortunate man that day. The caver had found refuge along a cliff. He was then starving and in slight hypothermia, protected by his neoprene suit.
A hunter facing the Amazon jungle and its rains
Jhonatan Acosta, a Bolivian, reported in March 2023 that he survived a month in the Amazon jungle by feeding on insects and worms and drinking water collected in his boots… or his own urine. The 30-year-old man was reported missing at the end of January after a hunting trip. Thanks to his knowledge of the forest and the help of mother nature who brought heavy rains, the hunter was able to survive. It’s not the first. Iraqi backpacker Yossi Ghinsberg survived three weeks in 1981 in Bolivia. His story inspired the film “Jungle” released in 2017. At the start of 2021, Antonio Sena survived 38 days in the Brazilian Amazon after the crash of his tourist plane. And in March 2022, two brothers aged 7 and 9 survived after spending 25 days in the jungle.
