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David Mackie: How did stranded student survive? | David Mackie: How did stranded student survive? |
(about 11 hours later) | |
A student who survived in the Turkish wilderness by sheltering in a cave and eating insects appears to have been resourceful, but what does a survival expert think of the measures he took? | A student who survived in the Turkish wilderness by sheltering in a cave and eating insects appears to have been resourceful, but what does a survival expert think of the measures he took? |
David Mackie, 21, from Nottinghamshire, was hiking the Lycian Way, with Dutch friends Friso de Vries and Marije de Groot, when they veered away from a mountain trail and then got trapped by rising river water. | |
They endured eight cold nights before being rescued but it could have easily ended in tragedy. What did they do to survive? | They endured eight cold nights before being rescued but it could have easily ended in tragedy. What did they do to survive? |
Finding shelter | Finding shelter |
Mr Mackie admits much of what he knew about surviving in the wilderness was gleaned from watching television. | Mr Mackie admits much of what he knew about surviving in the wilderness was gleaned from watching television. |
He said some of what he did was "common sense" and part of that was knowing they needed to find shelter from the cold winds and heavy rain, very quickly. | He said some of what he did was "common sense" and part of that was knowing they needed to find shelter from the cold winds and heavy rain, very quickly. |
Fortunately, they came across a small cave big enough for them all to get inside. | Fortunately, they came across a small cave big enough for them all to get inside. |
Conrad Allen, who runs courses for Trueways Survival, in York, said it was "critical" they found shelter fast. | Conrad Allen, who runs courses for Trueways Survival, in York, said it was "critical" they found shelter fast. |
Mr Allen, who spent five years with the RAF Mountain Rescue Service, said their chances of survival would have reduced drastically otherwise. | Mr Allen, who spent five years with the RAF Mountain Rescue Service, said their chances of survival would have reduced drastically otherwise. |
"Caves are cold but they're a consistent temperature, they wouldn't freeze in there but the deeper you go the better," he said. | "Caves are cold but they're a consistent temperature, they wouldn't freeze in there but the deeper you go the better," he said. |
Water, water, everywhere | Water, water, everywhere |
The three students had access to an abundance of fresh, flowing water and - in a sense - that was part of the problem. | The three students had access to an abundance of fresh, flowing water and - in a sense - that was part of the problem. |
The river bed, which was dry when they started to climb, suddenly swelled with water, cutting them off from the path they had been taking. | The river bed, which was dry when they started to climb, suddenly swelled with water, cutting them off from the path they had been taking. |
However, Mr Mackie said he knew he should only drink running water. | However, Mr Mackie said he knew he should only drink running water. |
Mr Allen said finding a suitable water source was a "major factor" in their survival. However, that also posed a danger. | Mr Allen said finding a suitable water source was a "major factor" in their survival. However, that also posed a danger. |
"Drinking straight from a cold river can drop your core temperature even further," he said. | "Drinking straight from a cold river can drop your core temperature even further," he said. |
The survival expert said it would have been better to collect the water and then try to warm it up by methods including holding it close to their bodies. | The survival expert said it would have been better to collect the water and then try to warm it up by methods including holding it close to their bodies. |
Mr Allen added they would have survived for only three days without a water source. | Mr Allen added they would have survived for only three days without a water source. |
Urine-filled hot water bottles | Urine-filled hot water bottles |
The trio were desperate to warm up and Mr Mackie tried to start a fire with tree bark, but it was too damp to ignite. | The trio were desperate to warm up and Mr Mackie tried to start a fire with tree bark, but it was too damp to ignite. |
However Mr Allen said smashing through a tree's wet bark would have revealed "a good dry source of wood". | However Mr Allen said smashing through a tree's wet bark would have revealed "a good dry source of wood". |
"That's only if they had the tools to get at it, but they could have used rocks to smash it open," he added. | "That's only if they had the tools to get at it, but they could have used rocks to smash it open," he added. |
Without fire, Mr Mackie came up with the novel idea of urinating into a spare container to use as a hot water bottle. | Without fire, Mr Mackie came up with the novel idea of urinating into a spare container to use as a hot water bottle. |
"I love that idea," said Mr Allen. "I'm always telling people how we've got the ability to create hot water, so that's really good." | "I love that idea," said Mr Allen. "I'm always telling people how we've got the ability to create hot water, so that's really good." |
Bug life | Bug life |
Despite their hunger and exhaustion, having fresh water could have kept the three students alive for about three weeks, Mr Allen said. | Despite their hunger and exhaustion, having fresh water could have kept the three students alive for about three weeks, Mr Allen said. |
"With water not being a problem, food was a low priority and you can live off your body fat," he said. | "With water not being a problem, food was a low priority and you can live off your body fat," he said. |
However, after a few days the students decided to take advantage of the local insect life. | However, after a few days the students decided to take advantage of the local insect life. |
"Ants were the best in my opinion, they were sweet," said Mr Mackie. | "Ants were the best in my opinion, they were sweet," said Mr Mackie. |
"We also left the light on at night so small flies would go fly round it for us to eat." | "We also left the light on at night so small flies would go fly round it for us to eat." |
Mr Allen approved of the choice of food. | Mr Allen approved of the choice of food. |
"All bug life is packed with protein so that was a really good move," he said. | "All bug life is packed with protein so that was a really good move," he said. |
Being positive | Being positive |
The three students did their best to motivate each other and stay positive. At night they huddled together to keep warm. | The three students did their best to motivate each other and stay positive. At night they huddled together to keep warm. |
"I got down when scary things started to happen like getting woken up by screams from my friends," Mr Mackie said. | "I got down when scary things started to happen like getting woken up by screams from my friends," Mr Mackie said. |
"I always tried to [keep] positive and for most of it I was thinking about my parents and being at home." | "I always tried to [keep] positive and for most of it I was thinking about my parents and being at home." |
For Mr Allen, being mentally strong is the "real key" to survival. | For Mr Allen, being mentally strong is the "real key" to survival. |
"Doubts are going to enter your mind but having something to live for [like mum and dad] helps a lot." | "Doubts are going to enter your mind but having something to live for [like mum and dad] helps a lot." |
Luck and judgement | Luck and judgement |
On the sixth day, Mr Mackie took the dead battery out of his phone and warmed it up in his hands. | On the sixth day, Mr Mackie took the dead battery out of his phone and warmed it up in his hands. |
The phone suddenly had 3% charge and he was able to make an emergency call. | The phone suddenly had 3% charge and he was able to make an emergency call. |
He said it was an "absolute miracle" but Mr Allen said what he did was sensible as batteries fail when they are cold. | He said it was an "absolute miracle" but Mr Allen said what he did was sensible as batteries fail when they are cold. |
The three students were found three days later after eight nights in the wilderness. | The three students were found three days later after eight nights in the wilderness. |
Mr Allen said, despite some of the resourceful steps they took, it was a "failure in preparation" that got them into trouble. | Mr Allen said, despite some of the resourceful steps they took, it was a "failure in preparation" that got them into trouble. |
"They should have packed for a week, despite it being a day's hike, as you never know if you'll get stranded," he said. | "They should have packed for a week, despite it being a day's hike, as you never know if you'll get stranded," he said. |
Mr Mackie said his experience has not put him off going on adventures but has vowed to be more organised in future. | Mr Mackie said his experience has not put him off going on adventures but has vowed to be more organised in future. |
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