CANBERRA, Oct 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Australian police have been left stunned, after a pair of missing people survived several days in the Outback, without food or water.
Shaun Emitja, 21, and Mahesh Patrick, 14, were reported missing by their families on Oct 11, after they failed to return to their remote Aboriginal community of Hermannsburg, from a weekend away at a sports carnival in Arlparra.
After an air and land search that lasted several days, Mahesh was found by a community member in bushland late on Friday night, followed by Emitja the following night, after they became separated on Wednesday.
Both men were dehydrated and suffering from exhaustion but otherwise fine, said Northern Territory (NT) Police, Southern Region Acting Commander, Kirsten Engels.
“It is an absolute miracle,” she told reporters yesterday.
“They are extremely lucky to be alive – we all know how harsh it is out there.”
The pair’s ute (coupé utility vehicle) became stuck, approximately 50 km south-east of Arlparra, more than a week ago.
They stayed with the vehicle until last Tuesday, when they walked 10 km to a water source on top of a hill.
Engels said, it was unclear how the pair became separated last Wednesday, but that Mahesh walked 35 km on his own before he was found. “What an amazing effort, 14 years old, the resilience and survival instinct is phenomenal,” Engels said.
Information that police gathered from Mahesh helped them find Emitja, despite pessimism about finding him alive.
Engels warned anyone travelling through the Outback not to leave their car, if they broke down.
“Stay with your car, we cannot stress that enough,” she said. “There is some shelter from the elements, it is the first port of call for searchers, and it is a much larger target to find (from the air),” she said.– NNN AGENCIES