Fancy a 42 day walk through the WA great sandy desert?

[FeatherWeightDriver]

Last night I caught an interesting documentary on ABC about Robert Bogucki who in 1999 survived 43 days lost but still managing to walk 400km in Western Australia's Great Sandy Desert before being rescued.

Not sure if this character is smarter, braver, tougher or further out in left field than most of us, but I bet there isn't anyone here who would take on the same trip - even his original one week plan was lunacy, let alone what he did / did not take with him.

You can watch the movie on iView at this link until 7th December: Miracles : ABC iview (http://iview.abc.net.au/programs/miracles/DO0841H002S00)

PS: So much for the theory that Puma Defender and Range Rover drivers roll the dice when ever they go near dry sand! :angel:

PPS: bonus points for spotting the tow / recovery using a strap around the bullbar in the video link.

[justinc]

I don't know really what to make of him, I am glad he lived to see another day, and he has surely shown a few people the capabilities of the human body BUT I am a little peeved about WHY he put so many people through so much heartache and inconvenience. What if one of the search team had been injured, or died during looking for him? How was his family feeling?

Bordering on selfish and self absorption I feel.

Still, I am thankful he was found in any case.

JC

[boa]

I was in WA at the time. Doing very remote desert trips. I did a course survial course with the WA police force. Still have a nice certificate to say I did the course. But the people presenting the course where hope less. The strange thing is. They have one of the best documents on survival. But the members in the field don't have the training. Two examples we had a situation with a person in an rolled vehicle contracted police in area near a remote town, we had HF contact with our person.
We had GPS position but the local police did not know how to read them. They went to a local person to guide them there. They did rescue him and he was after some delay in the hands of the RFDS. Second situation was at a station the police did an exercise to rescue people on the canning stock route. They gave up and said can the station owners do it . Reason they had the local knowledge. This was my experience at the time of this incident. As a side issue sometimes the SAS would fly in on their RFDS strip during the night. Not announced. Disappear for a while and come back to be picked up. Was not there but have seen some of the photos. When they got rid of excess ammunition.

[bob10]

A long time in the desert, found in good condition, by a media helicopter. I believe it. Bob


Robert Bogucki Help Sign (HELP Canyon) @ ExplorOz Forum (http://www.exploroz.com/Forum/Topic/88943/Robert_Bogucki_Help_Sign_HELP_Canyon.aspx)

[bob10]

Our delightful media. And they want to cripple the ABC, Bob


Media Watch 1999 (http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s49998.htm)

[d2dave]

Just finished watching this. One very lucky but stupid person.

At least the family kicked in 20K towards the cost which is 20k more than most people donate when rescued from stupidity.