hollywoodtone.blogspot.com Australian lost in Queensland's bushland 28 days found alive
hollywoodtone.blogspot.com Australian lost in Queensland's bushland 28 days found alive
An Australian man is probably considering himself lucky this week after being lost and alone in the bushland of northern Queensland for 28 days. When found, the 40-year old surprised authorities by saying he surviving on butterflies, mussels and fruit.
Stephen Currie went missing December 29 in the bushland near Chilagoe, in northern Queensland, when he left a caravan he was with and decided to walk into the town's industrial area. He later told police he became disoriented and lost his way. Mareeba police Det Sen-Constable Vince Marcel, said, "By all money I thought he was gone.'' An extensive air and land search was immediately started when the report of Currie's disappearance came in, including a search of the caves and mine shafts dotting the terrain. With the number of old mines in the area, Currie could have fallen down a mine shaft and possibly never been found. The search was called off about three weeks ago because the temperatures had risen to almost 40C, and police were at a loss to figure out his disappearance. But Sen-Constable Marcel said he was in contact with Currie's family in Victoria several times a week through the ordeal. So imagine everyone's surprise when locals discovered Currie walking along a remote track about 10km outside the west Tableland town of Chilagoe Tuesday afternoon. Having lost 33 pounds, the shoeless, shirtless man told authorities he had survived by eating butterflies, mussels and fruit.
Currie said he had slept in the sand, using bark for bedding, and making a cover for himself out of paperbark. He credits the Walsh River with saving his life, providing drinking water, food and acting as his guide. Alan Pedersen, a local landowner said it was amazing that the river's water was drinkable because, "A lot of the water this time of year is saturated with bacteria.'' Chilagoe is located in northern Queensland, Australia, about 87 miles west of Mareeba, and 127 miles west of Cairns. The town was once a thriving mining town, with a wide range of minerals being found. All that is left of the boon days is a zinc mine and some marble quarries. It is fortunate that Currie was lost during the wet season of the year (December to March), otherwise, he would have wandered in a dry parched landscape. As it turned out, he was able to find clean, flowing water, figs and berries, as well as paperbarks and tea trees. Outside the town a visitor can find Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park. There are between 600-1,000 limestone caves in the park, and along with the scenic, rugged terrain, and the remains of the Chilagoe smelters, the park draws many spelunkers and history buffs to the area.
Vicki Nunn
Orchard Swallowtail Butterfly found in Queensland, Australia.
image:169596:0::0
Currie said he had slept in the sand, using bark for bedding, and making a cover for himself out of paperbark. He credits the Walsh River with saving his life, providing drinking water, food and acting as his guide. Alan Pedersen, a local landowner said it was amazing that the river's water was drinkable because, "A lot of the water this time of year is saturated with bacteria.'' Chilagoe is located in northern Queensland, Australia, about 87 miles west of Mareeba, and 127 miles west of Cairns. The town was once a thriving mining town, with a wide range of minerals being found. All that is left of the boon days is a zinc mine and some marble quarries. It is fortunate that Currie was lost during the wet season of the year (December to March), otherwise, he would have wandered in a dry parched landscape. As it turned out, he was able to find clean, flowing water, figs and berries, as well as paperbarks and tea trees. Outside the town a visitor can find Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park. There are between 600-1,000 limestone caves in the park, and along with the scenic, rugged terrain, and the remains of the Chilagoe smelters, the park draws many spelunkers and history buffs to the area.
Duncan T Ray
Chillagoe Smelters looking south, the powerhouse chimney in the fore ground and high on the hill is the main smelter flue and chimney.
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hollywoodtone.blogspot.com Australian lost in Queensland's bushland 28 days found alive