Lost Backpacker...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/lo ndon/8150982.stm
Of course it's marvellous and miraculous that young Mr Neale was found alive and well after 12 days lost in the Aussie bush but... speaking as a hillwalker... I think this man should apologise profusely to the Australian rescue teams for wasting so much of their time and resources and his parents for scaring them to death.
To head off into dense woodland in a foreign country in a remote landscape you're unfamiliar with is a great adventure. And anyone can get lost or meet with an accident. But to go out solo, without telling people what route you're taking, leaving your mobile phone behind, not carrying any form of emergency shelter, no extra provisions. Any boy scout would tell you it was completely irresponsible.
And yet... he'll probably get offered thousands to sell his story to a newspaper or write a book. Just hope he gives anything he makes from this to the people who saved his life. They earned it.
Thank god he's safe, but boy was that a childish thing to do! I never go anywhere with out my phone just in case!
Yes, definitely irresponsible! Glad he turned out to be okay. I never go anywhere without my phone as well. You never know.
That is more than irresponsible. His actions were just plain stupid. I am also glad he is safe, but the kid is unbelievably lucky.
Original Post by girlfighting27:
Thank the rescue teams he's safe, but boy was that a childish thing to do! I never go anywhere with out my phone just in case!
Fixed.
Unless his phone was a very expensive sat-phone I doubt having a cell phone would have done him any good in the aussie bush.. Even if you're on verizon the only network you'll have is roos and dropbears...
Not the first time this sort of thing has happened. This link recounts a similar story from the summer of 1999.
In dumb dude's defense, on my high school senior class trip we went to the mountains of Colorado and a friend and I took a walk and got totally lost. It was some kind of miracle that we didn't end up in the same situation this kid was in. We thought we knew exactly where we were, but when we tried to make our way back to the lodge we managed to end up on the other side of the mountain or something. By the time we got back it was almost dark. Coming from Michigan, we weren't real used to mountain terrain - maybe it was the same thing for this young man.
Original Post by gi-jane:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/lo ndon/8150982.stm
...I think this man should apologise profusely to the Australian rescue teams for wasting so much of their time and resources and his parents for scaring them to death.
To head off into dense woodland in a foreign country in a remote landscape you're unfamiliar with is a great adventure. And anyone can get lost or meet with an accident. But to go out solo, without telling people what route you're taking, leaving your mobile phone behind, not carrying any form of emergency shelter, no extra provisions. Any boy scout would tell you it was completely irresponsible.
And yet... he'll probably get offered thousands to sell his story to a newspaper or write a book. Just hope he gives anything he makes from this to the people who saved his life. They earned it.
Maybe it's different "out there," but where I'm from, if you have to get rescued because of your own stupidity or recklessness, you don't just apologize, they send you the bill- for helicopters, rescue vehicles, manpower, supplies, and whatever. And it ain't cheap!
Ha! I'd rather stay lost. Remind me to tell my family next time I go on a camping trip to keep the dogs penned up and the coptars dry. I'd rather wander around for a few weeks then come back to a bill. If you walk in a straight line long enough you'll find a telephone pole or a road.
The sad thing is, this happens all the time.
I remember hearing a few years ago the story of some german guys going driving in the desert, getting stuck, needing rescuing and medical help because instead of taking any water they took close to 50 litres of beer.
When we first moved to the Colorado mountains my mom made us take a survival course. It seemed stupid at the time - but 30 years on I have used that knowledge and it has saved my bacon. Les Stroud would be proud. Lesson 1 - always say where you are going and when you expect to be back. Simple round the block stuff. What was that kid thinking??
Original Post by das1988:
Original Post by girlfighting27:
Thank the rescue teams he's safe, but boy was that a childish thing to do! I never go anywhere with out my phone just in case!
Fixed.
Just plain rude das1988. The absolute worst thing about this site is that non-believers will NOT peacefully allow those of faith to express that faith without some snarky reply. These same people scream for acceptance of every other group in the world, but belittle religious folks every chance they get.
Nothing new! Listen to the Scottish news, every year visitors from south of the border doing the exact same thing in our mountains.
But I will agree it is totally irresponsible and selfish for anyone to go off anywhere in the world without following basic safety procedures...For instance learning basic orienteering.
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