18-year-old man stranded in the jungle for 10 days; toothpaste kept him alive

 

 

An 18-year-old man who went missing in the cold, mountainous terrain of northwest China has finally been successfully rescued. The teenager had been missing for 10 days. After escaping, the young man revealed that he survived for 10 days without food or water by eating toothpaste and snow. The young man, named Sun, began his solo hiking adventure on February 8. The trip was to the Qinling Mountains, an east-west mountain range in Shaanxi province. The Qinling Mountains are known for their average altitude of 2,500 meters and a remarkable diversity of plants and wildlife.

Two days into the trip, Sun lost contact with his family when the batteries of his electronic devices ran out. He was lost and completely cut off from the outside world after being stranded in the mountains. He sought refuge behind a large rock to escape the harsh weather. He made a makeshift bed out of straw and leaves and stayed there.

Luckily, rescuers found Sun on February 17 during the search. According to reports, a local search team went out to find the young man at the request of his worried family. The young man says that he survived by drinking toothpaste, snow and stream water after running out of food during the days he was lost and isolated. Speaking to local media after his escape, Sun said that he did not expect to come back to life.

Qinling is considered one of the five most challenging hiking trails in China due to its unpredictable weather. Over the past two decades, more than 50 people have reportedly gone missing or died on the trail. In 2018, local authorities banned travelers from entering the area, but reports say there are still many trespassers. Local reports claim that Sun is the first person to escape after going missing here.