58-year-old goes missing in the wild for 18 days, survives by eating only wild mushrooms

A 58-year-old man, who was lost in the Australian bushes for almost three weeks, managed to survive by eating just wild mushrooms and drinking dam water.

Robert Weber had disappeared with his dog in Queensland on January 6. According to reports, he was last spotted leaving a hotel in Kilkivan. Later, when he drove to a farm road, he got stuck in the dirt.

According to the police, Weber remained in his car for the first three days but was forced to leave when he ran out of water.

Weber walked the bushlands in search of food and water but got lost while looking for help. For the next few days, he ate only wild mushrooms and water that he found in a dam. After eighteen days, he was found sitting under a tree near the dam by his wife. The spot was 3 kms away from his car.

But before that, a search party was out in the bushes looking for Weber for more than two weeks. Queensland Tony Perret continued looking for Weber even after the search was officially called off.

In an interview with ABC, Perret said the search party had crossed the dam several times.

Once Weber was spotted, he was quickly taken to a hospital for treatment. Fortunately, he did suffer any serious injuries. But his dog is still missing.

“He remained at his car with his dog for three days before running out of water. He left on foot and became lost and remained at a dam where he survived by sleeping on the ground, drinking dam water, and eating mushrooms. Mr Weber was conveyed to hospital suffering exposure to the elements but was otherwise safe and well,” said a police spokesperson.

Last year, a 30-year-old man from Alaska managed to survive for 23 days in freezing temperatures after his cabin burned down. He was rescued by state troopers, who spotted an 'SOS' sign scribbled on snow.