Elderly British expat rescued after spending three days lost in the jungle in Khon Kaen

[kwaussie]

He looks like a fairly fit old rooster, good on him for wanting to be in nature and keeping fit and well done the rescuers.

So good to see a good news story for a change. 

[shackleton]

Glad he was found safe but needs to rethink about wondering off in the future none of us are getting younger 

[2 is 1]

2 hours ago, EricTh said:

73 years old, could not speak Thai and going hiking alone? That's a formula for disaster.

 

He's lucky this time, shouldn't do it again.

So who help him in jungle if he speak Thai! Thai speaking jumbo?

[rudi49jr]

I love hiking in the jungle myself. Almost got lost in Khao Phanom Bencha (near Krabi) once, and I remember thinking how much I would hate to spend the night there, let alone three, like Mr. Weller. He’s still a lucky guy, though, and I’m glad he was found and it ended well for him. 

[robblok]

Fools luck, i mean who would go into the forrest without taking at least a mobile with him or better preparation.

 

You see people like this using up precious resources all the time because they overestimate themselves. When i go hiking in Khao Yai i usually rent a guide too. Once i went without and it was hard to follow the trails as they can be quite unclear suffice to say we could not finish the walk as the track was gone. Going back was ok as we had a river / stream to guide us.

 

But its just not smart to attempt these things especially alone.

[Percy P]

6 hours ago, captnhoy said:

And another happy ending for Mr. Weller. Glad to read it.

 

I don't go out without my mobile in case of an emergency . Cost 200 Baht

[worgeordie]

Always leave a trail of breadcrumb's behind you  ????

 

regards Worgeordie

[gungadin1]

6 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Why would that be odd?

Anyway, happy to hear Mr. Weller is alright.

Because he doesn't look like he's 49 that's why

[wimpy]

4 hours ago, Moonlover said:

A smart phone can be useful. there are some good walking apps that record your progress, so you're able to retrace your path if necessary. Trouble is you're not always able to get a signal when you head for the hills.

 

Well done Mr. Weller for keeping your cool in a difficult situation and kudos to the team that rescued him.

 

This incident does emphasis the importance of always letting someone know where you're going when you take off on a jaunt.

I use Locus, which can load offline maps. No signal needed.

[PDP11]

When I lived in Colorado, I was a member of the Colorado Mountain Club. You are constantly “educated” on the need for the 10 essentials (Google it) when out hiking / trekking. No exceptions. The essentials include a workable means of navigation and extra clothes / food / water. This guy is very lucky … I hope he invests in a small backpack (rucksack for the Brits) and some sturdy footwear for the next time. And he needs to learn how to use a simple compass (not the one in your phone). As others have mentioned here, GPS can be very unreliable in remote areas due to scattering from trees, rock walls, terrain, etc. And if the jungle is dense, you won’t get a GPS signal at all. Finally, active use of GPS will run your battery down quickly. I can’t tell you how many rescues I’ve been involved with where the hiker had just their phone and thought they would be fine. Then they discovered no cell signal, followed by misleading GPS, and finally a dead battery. All within a few hours. 

Edited September 4, 2021 by PDP11

[Moonlover]

15 minutes ago, wimpy said:

I use Locus, which can load offline maps. No signal needed.

No GPS mapping app needs a phone signal, but in hilly jungle terrain even GPS can become unreliable. The signals are often too weak to penetrate the canopy.

[Sig]

Hiking alone... with a mask....????????

[gearbox]

3 hours ago, EricTh said:

73 years old, could not speak Thai and going hiking alone? That's a formula for disaster.

 

He's lucky this time, shouldn't do it again.

Not really, I've seen older people than him in the Himalayas doing very well. He is just not prepared for cases when things go wrong. Should have at least a water filter.

[Sig]

3 minutes ago, gearbox said:

Not really, I've seen older people than him in the Himalayas doing very well. He is just not prepared for cases when things go wrong. Should have at least a water filter.

At least he had his vitally necessary mask! You never know what log COVID might be lurking under out there in the jungle....

[Liverpool Lou]

6 hours ago, ezzra said:

They may have rescued him from a jungle but as almost no one is wearing a mask there, not surprised if he catch the bug from one of them...

What makes you think that they're all infected?

[Liverpool Lou]

5 hours ago, JRG23 said:

Silly old <deleted>.

Don't be so hard on yourself.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

When somebody chooses to do this kind of thing they should first consider that  they will have to depend on others to help them out if things go wrong.

That's why there are rescue services paid for by everyone.

[JulesMad]

Very hard to believe... If you walk 3 days (even slowly) in any direction, you WILL stumble on a path, track or road, and people as well. This is Esan

[hottrader77]

8 hours ago, captnhoy said:

And another happy ending for Mr. Weller. Glad to read it.

 

Next for a happy ending in local massage parlour

[EricTh]

1 hour ago, 2 is 1 said:

So who help him in jungle if he speak Thai! Thai speaking jumbo?

There are some people who live in the jungle. 

[nkg]

7 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Quote

Says he was 49 in UK tabloids.thought it was odd so checked here

 

Why would that be odd?

Anyway, happy to hear Mr. Weller is alright.

 

Judging by the average poster on Thaivisa, most of the expats in Thailand are miserable old sods, not youthful 49 year-olds ????

[Liverpool Lou]

21 minutes ago, Sig said:

Hiking alone... with a mask....????????

Given to him by the rescuers after they found him, perhaps?

[Liverpool Lou]

6 minutes ago, JulesMad said:

Very hard to believe... If you walk 3 days (even slowly) in any direction, you WILL stumble on a path, track or road, and people as well. This is Esan

You seriously expect a 79-year old to be able to walk for three days out of the jungle to safety without equipment, food or water?   This is the real world.

[WhiteBuffaloATM]

clearly completely unskilled & unprepared. PPPPPPP……and very lucky indeed……..

let this serve as a warning to others too…….

[Scouse123]

3 hours ago, fceligoj said:

Know why the "wife" was crying with happiness.  Her sugar daddy was found!

Not the nicest thing you could have said today!

[dave moir]

4 hours ago, mrjohn said:

Glad to hear this news but I do wish somebody could point to Mr Weller so that we know which one he is.

????I would take a guess at the farang in the centre!????????????

[Liverpool Lou]

9 minutes ago, JulesMad said:

Very hard to believe... If you walk 3 days (even slowly) in any direction, you WILL stumble on a path, track or road, and people as well. This is Esan

So you are guaranteeing that just by walking blindly for three days will lead to a path.  That there will be no obstacles in any of those direction such as, perhaps, a cliff, steep waterfall, dense jungle, river/stream, dead end, etc., that means he would have to start his three days self-rescue mission form scratch again?   Very hard to believe.

[Liverpool Lou]

12 minutes ago, nkg said:

 

Judging by the average poster on Thaivisa, most of the expats in Thailand are miserable old sods, not youthful 49 year-olds ????

Well observed.   I take it that includes yourself.

[Liverpool Lou]

8 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

3 hours ago, fceligoj said:

Know why the "wife" was crying with happiness.  Her sugar daddy was found!

Not the nicest thing you could have said today!

He's a Thaivisa poster!

[Gold Star]

Perhaps he was just getting away for a sanity break.

 

You know, Osama Bin Laden was hiding in his house, stuck with his 3 wives for years.

I think that he called the Navy seals himself.