An Australian man is lucky to be alive after getting lost in the remote West Australian desert for six days, and apparently eating ants to survive.
Reginald Foggerdy, 62, was found on Tuesday by Specialist Tactical Response Group trackers 170 kilometres (105.63 miles) east of the town of Laverton, the Western Australia Police said in a statement.
Foggerdy had gone on a hunting trip with his brother on Tuesday, Oct. 6, but went missing the following day after leaving camp to look for animals.
The police said it appeared Foggerdy had stayed alive by lying under a tree to escape the heat and by eating black ants. Seeming to have had no water for six days, he was extremely dehydrated and was removed via helicopter to receive medical attention.
Local Aboriginal trackers used Foggerdy's footsteps to locate him, but the fact that he was wearing thongs (Australian for flip flops) meant the trail was initially hard to follow.
TRG were assisted by local Aboriginal Trackers to locate Mr Foggerdy. Wearing thongs added to degree of difficulty. pic.twitter.com/TwsbB9GH9D— WA Police (@WA_Police) October 13, 2015
Foggerdy was wearing shorts, a T-shirt, a cap and thongs when he went missing, Police Superintendent Andy Greatwood told 720 ABC Perth.
"[He had] fantastic survival skills," he said. "Obviously it will emerge how [he] did that and how he achieved that, but it's fair to say it's been extremely hot, extremely remote and most people would not have survived so he's done a fantastic job."
[He was] extremely dehydrated, a bit delusional, but he's received treatment, first aid, on the ground and it's fair to say he's now sitting up and talking, so it's looking very positive."
This shooters shack was used as a command post for the search for Mr Foggerdy #polair #swaggingit pic.twitter.com/NwlFi24WIO— WA Police (@WA_Police) October 13, 2015
Chantel Foggerdy, who appeared to be Foggerdy's daughter, praised the police on Facebook. "Oh my god Dad your amazing I love you so much it hurts to see you like this but what an amazing outcome thank you all who looked for my dad I'm forever grateful and thankful can't wait to see you [sic]," she wrote.
"How you can survive without water and food is a miracle," Foggerdy's wife Arlyn told the ABC.