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| British backpacker lost in outback 'survived on contact lens solution' | British backpacker lost in outback 'survived on contact lens solution' |
| (8 days later) | |
| A British backpacker who went missing in the Australian outback for three days survived by drinking contact lens solution, his mother has said. | A British backpacker who went missing in the Australian outback for three days survived by drinking contact lens solution, his mother has said. |
| Samuel Woodhead, 18, disappeared on Tuesday after he set out for a jog from a cattle station in Queensland. He was said to be a little sunburned following his ordeal, but was hydrated and otherwise well. | Samuel Woodhead, 18, disappeared on Tuesday after he set out for a jog from a cattle station in Queensland. He was said to be a little sunburned following his ordeal, but was hydrated and otherwise well. |
| The chance discovery of packets of lenses in his rucksack, placed there by Woodhead's father, Peter, apparently sustained him in the 40C heat. | The chance discovery of packets of lenses in his rucksack, placed there by Woodhead's father, Peter, apparently sustained him in the 40C heat. |
| His mother, Claire, 54, told This Morning: "His father had packed boxes of contact lenses in his rucksack in an outside pocket and he'd forgotten to take them out. He's lived on the fluid that the contact lenses … you know the little packs of contact lenses? He's literally lived on those packs of contact lenses for three nights." | His mother, Claire, 54, told This Morning: "His father had packed boxes of contact lenses in his rucksack in an outside pocket and he'd forgotten to take them out. He's lived on the fluid that the contact lenses … you know the little packs of contact lenses? He's literally lived on those packs of contact lenses for three nights." |
| Relatives said the teenager, a keen long-distance runner, owed his life to rescue workers who launched a helicopter search of the region after he was reported missing from Upshot Station, near the town of Longreach, on Tuesday. | Relatives said the teenager, a keen long-distance runner, owed his life to rescue workers who launched a helicopter search of the region after he was reported missing from Upshot Station, near the town of Longreach, on Tuesday. |
| Mrs Woodhead, who has travelled out to Australia, said: "I've spoken to Sam on the phone and I'm flying out to Longreach tomorrow morning. I'm very, very relieved indeed. I've just had the worst three days of my life, and when I got the message from the pilot on the plane [that he had been located], I just cried." | Mrs Woodhead, who has travelled out to Australia, said: "I've spoken to Sam on the phone and I'm flying out to Longreach tomorrow morning. I'm very, very relieved indeed. I've just had the worst three days of my life, and when I got the message from the pilot on the plane [that he had been located], I just cried." |
| Her son, a former Brighton College student from Richmond upon Thames, south-west London, was taken for a medical assessment on Friday before being transferred to a hospital in Longreach. | Her son, a former Brighton College student from Richmond upon Thames, south-west London, was taken for a medical assessment on Friday before being transferred to a hospital in Longreach. |
| His sister Rebecca announced his recovery on Facebook. She wrote: "We have been told that they have found sam!! We have no information on his condition or where he was found yet, so keep your fingers crossed." | His sister Rebecca announced his recovery on Facebook. She wrote: "We have been told that they have found sam!! We have no information on his condition or where he was found yet, so keep your fingers crossed." |
| She later said his injuries were no worse than "minor sunstroke, dehydration and chapped lips". | She later said his injuries were no worse than "minor sunstroke, dehydration and chapped lips". |
| Peter Woodhead broke down as he described the wait for news of his son. "The word 'nightmare' these days is much misused," he told ITV's Daybreak. "This has been a true nightmare." | Peter Woodhead broke down as he described the wait for news of his son. "The word 'nightmare' these days is much misused," he told ITV's Daybreak. "This has been a true nightmare." |
| He added: "We have just had so much support from friends and family. I would like to put on air the thanks we give to everyone who joined in their search effort. He owes his life to them." | He added: "We have just had so much support from friends and family. I would like to put on air the thanks we give to everyone who joined in their search effort. He owes his life to them." |
| Alex Dorr, a pilot with the North Queensland helicopter rescue service, told the programme he went to the area where the teenager disappeared and used night-vision cameras to search in the dark. The region was "harsh and unforgiving", he said. "Not that long ago we had a guy who was missing for a much shorter time and he passed away from dehydration." | Alex Dorr, a pilot with the North Queensland helicopter rescue service, told the programme he went to the area where the teenager disappeared and used night-vision cameras to search in the dark. The region was "harsh and unforgiving", he said. "Not that long ago we had a guy who was missing for a much shorter time and he passed away from dehydration." |
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