A mother and son are recovering this week, after getting lost in the Australian bushland for 10 days.
Michelle Pittman, 40, and son Dylan, nine, were out on a hike through Mount Royal National Park, in New South Wales, when they lost their way.
According to reports, they mistook dried-up creeks for walking tracks after setting out on October 2.
The pair ended up getting lost for 10 days, and managed to stay alive by scavenging for water anywhere that they could.
Lead inspector Andrew Steenson told local media: “There were some small puddles along the creek bed that they used to refill their drink bottles.
“They also came across a shed that had a tank, and they got water from that.”
Michelle and Dylan had not told anyone where they were going, but family members grew concerned when they didn’t hear from them for a number of days.
Once a missing persons report was filed, authorities discovered a list of bushwalks in the Pittmans’ home. They headed for the Mount Royal National Park area, where Michelle’s car was discovered.
After a wide-scale search, authorities located Michelle and Dylan on Thursday afternoon, some five or six kilometres from where they had begun their trek.
Both were dehydrated, disoriented, and ‘extremely hungry’. They were also covered in bites and scratches, but were reported to be in ‘remarkably good’ condition, in light of their experience.
The pair were brought to hospital and kept overnight. It is not believed that they will suffer any long-term effects.
Thank heavens both of them are doing OK after their ordeal.
