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Survival shows helped lost teen | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The family of a teenager who survived two nights in the Australian rainforest say they used to tease him over his interest in Ray Mears's survival shows. | |
Will Bliss, 19, who had gone for a walk in Otway Ranges National Park in Victoria, was found by a search and rescue team on Thursday morning. | |
His relieved father Martin, from Plockton, Scotland, said his son had found some of Mears's tips useful. | |
Police said Will had become disorientated in the dark. | |
The teenager's father, who is on a family holiday in Australia, will meet his son near Brisbane this weekend. | |
Martin Bliss, who has spoken to his son by phone, said: "It's been like waking up from a horrible dream. | |
He's a fit lad who likes walking in the local hills and trout fishing. Obviously he wasn't prepared for this one Martin Bliss | |
"He said the first night was cold and he made himself a bed out of bracken and the next morning he kept walking along this path, but found nothing so he spent another night out." | |
Martin Bliss said that at one point his son could hear a helicopter searching for him, but could not see it for the thick canopy of trees. | |
The Plockton Football Club manager said the teenager loved watching Ray Mears's programmes about surviving extreme conditions and that some of the advice had stuck with him. | |
Martin Bliss said: "He's a fit lad who likes walking in the local hills and trout fishing. Obviously he wasn't prepared for this one." | |
He said Will Bliss was found by park rangers and police fed him a "whole steak" at the local station. | |
Insp Ken Slingsby, of Colac Police, said he had become disorientated when night fell and had been walking around in circles. | |
The officer said the teenager had "done well" to survive. | The officer said the teenager had "done well" to survive. |
He's done well to get out after having brought nothing with him Insp Ken Slingsby | |
Insp Slingsby said Mr Bliss had gone for a walk to Sabin Falls - a distance of 3.5km (2 miles) - on his own. | Insp Slingsby said Mr Bliss had gone for a walk to Sabin Falls - a distance of 3.5km (2 miles) - on his own. |
His German girlfriend Michelle had decided not to go on the trek and she raised the alarm when he failed to return as planned. | |
Mr Bliss was only wearing jeans, a T-shirt and light jacket, said police. | |
Insp Slingsby said: "He had no food or water - he only had his camera with him. | Insp Slingsby said: "He had no food or water - he only had his camera with him. |
"He was walking in one of the coldest places in Victoria. The temperature can drop to minus four or five degrees Celsius." | "He was walking in one of the coldest places in Victoria. The temperature can drop to minus four or five degrees Celsius." |
When Mr Bliss failed to return his girlfriend, who he had met while backpacking, raised the alarm in Apollo Bay, a town on the coast, after first going to look for him herself. | When Mr Bliss failed to return his girlfriend, who he had met while backpacking, raised the alarm in Apollo Bay, a town on the coast, after first going to look for him herself. |
Insp Slingsby said thick foliage in the area hampered an air search. | Insp Slingsby said thick foliage in the area hampered an air search. |
The officer added: "He's done well to get out after having brought nothing with him." | The officer added: "He's done well to get out after having brought nothing with him." |
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