Another incredible tale of Outback survival should serve as another graphic reminder to grey nomads about the potential perils of travelling – and getting stuck – in remote Australia.
After surviving on wild mushrooms and dam water for 18 days, Robert Weber, 58, described his decision to take a ‘shortcut’ in the southern Queensland bush as a ‘moment of madness’ that nearly cost him his life.
The 58-year-old was on his way home to Narangba from the Kilkivan Hotel when he took a right-hand turn off a main road and followed what he thought was the direction ‘the crow flies’ to Narangba.
He drove for three hours, through four different farm gates before his car became bogged. The car eventually broke down in his attempts to free it.
“When they say no through road they actually mean it,” Mr Weber told the ABC. “I had water for about three days … it was raining so I was collecting water on the car itself.”
However, when he eventually ran out of water, Mr Weber went in search of more and injured himself after losing his footing while climbing along an embankment of boulders and sliding 15 metres.
Mr Weber said he began eating mushrooms, crushing them in his mouth and washing down half a mouthful at a time with water.
As well as endlessly searching for more waterholes, Mr Weber also said he also struggled to get much sleep.
“Imagine laying there in the paddock and you are just getting comfortable … you have your cap down and then ants start attacking you,” he said. “They were ferocious … they’d nearly rip your ear off, they were my worst predator.”
Mr Weber said he could hear the SES helicopter looking for him and actually saw searchers in the helicopter three times, but was unable to get their attention.
He said it was a ‘serene’ experience when he was finally rescued.
“I could hardly believe it,” he said. “It was one of the greatest moments of my life, apart from having children, that would second it.”
And Mr Weber said he would never take another risky short cut again.
“I have been stranded before, but not stranded for 18 days … hopelessly stranded,” he said. “It was just mad. One of those things.”
