Hiker survives by eating toothpaste after losing his way in mountains for 10 days
A hiker in China survived getting lost in the cold mountains for more than a week by eating toothpaste.
In a report by the South China Morning Post, 18-year-old Sun Liang became stranded for 10 days during his hike in the mountains of northwestern China.
He started his journey on Feb. 8 in the Qinling, a mountain range in Shaanxi province with an average altitude of around 2,500 meters.
However, two days into his hike, Liang's electronic devices ran out of battery, causing him to lose contact with his family.
To make things worse, Liang suffered a fracture in his right arm after falling several times trying to walk downstream along a creek. As for the cold weather, he braved it by sheltering himself behind a large rock and making a bed using dry straw and leaves.
Once he ran out of food, he had to consume river water, melted snow, and even toothpaste.
According to a study published by the National Library of Medicine, toothpaste typically contains several ingredients that can potentially lead to health risks if swallowed in large amounts. These include gastrointestinal irritation, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Fortunately, the local search and rescue team involving more than 30 team members found him a week later, on Feb. 1,7 after his family reported him missing.
Liang sought the attention of the rescuers when he caught a whiff of the smoke and yelled for help.
The news outlet detailed that the route he was traveling on is considered "one of the five most challenging hiking trails in China" due to its "notoriously unpredictable weather." More than 50 hikers have reportedly gone missing or have died while traversing this terrain.
Because of this, local authorities prohibited travelers from entering the area beginning in 2018, but Liang said he was unaware of the ban.
"I feel terrified after the incident. This area is not suitable for hiking at all," he said following his rescue.
"The wind was so strong that I could barely maintain my footing, even with two alpenstocks for support. The snow was so heavy that I could hardly open my eyes," he continued.
Liang stressed that navigating the route was "exceedingly difficult" and that there were "no picturesque views." He also said the weather "changes abruptly."
"I urge all mountain climbers contemplating tackling the Ao-Tai Line: you absolutely must not go, as life is invaluable," he warned.
The rescue incurred a cost of 80,000 yuan (P637,011) to his family.
"We implement a fee to deter potential hikers. We also want to remind the public that hiking along this route could expose them to encounters with dangerous wildlife, including bears, antelopes, and wild boars. Some of our rescuers sustained injuries during this operation," a member of the rescue team explained.
