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Australian 'ant man' survived outback ordeal by copying Bear Grylls | Australian 'ant man' survived outback ordeal by copying Bear Grylls |
(35 minutes later) | |
A 62-year-old man has revealed how he survived in the Australian outback by eating ants after picking up the tip from TV survival expert Bear Grylls. | A 62-year-old man has revealed how he survived in the Australian outback by eating ants after picking up the tip from TV survival expert Bear Grylls. |
Reg Foggerdy, a diabetic with heart problems, went missing last month in the Western Australian desert while hunting camel. He was found after six days under a bush. | Reg Foggerdy, a diabetic with heart problems, went missing last month in the Western Australian desert while hunting camel. He was found after six days under a bush. |
In his first interview since then, Foggerdy told Australian broadcaster 7News he ate black ants for nutrition during the ordeal. | In his first interview since then, Foggerdy told Australian broadcaster 7News he ate black ants for nutrition during the ordeal. |
He said he had seen former SAS soldier Grylls on TV harvesting ants to eat by poking a stick at a nest. “They had a big hole there and I got the stick and I ate quite a lot,” Foggerdy said, adding that he had given up hope of being found. | He said he had seen former SAS soldier Grylls on TV harvesting ants to eat by poking a stick at a nest. “They had a big hole there and I got the stick and I ate quite a lot,” Foggerdy said, adding that he had given up hope of being found. |
The retired miner, nicknamed “ant man” by the Australian media, added: “They tasted quite good. On the first day I had about 12 and on the second day about 18. If they want to call me ant man I don’t care,” he said. “I wouldn’t say I’m tough … just lucky ... I’ve heard of people dying after three days with no water; I don’t know why I survived six days.” | |
Foggerdy had gone hunting with his brother Ray but got lost pursuing a camel that he had shot. “I followed this camel into the bush. I’d gone at least 30km. I didn’t know where I was,” he said. | |
He found the dead camel, but without a knife or matches, had no means of eating it. | |
Foggerdy said he saw police helicopters searching for him but barely had the energy to wave for help. He was eventually found after an Aboriginal tracker spotted his footprint. | |
By the time police teams reached him Foggerdy’s organs had begun shutting down. “Because I’d come closer to death, now I think I’ve got a new life,” he said. | By the time police teams reached him Foggerdy’s organs had begun shutting down. “Because I’d come closer to death, now I think I’ve got a new life,” he said. |
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