Tracking, not ants saved this man’s life…

[wayno]

http://bigpigblog.com/2015/11/04/tracki ... mans-life/

Reg Foggerdy was close to death when this picture was taken. While camel hunting in Western Australia, he got lost without any gear and spent the next six days suffering. In typical media fashion, he has been dubbed the “Antman” because he ate a few ants during his ordeal, and news titles like this littered my news feed:

[neilmny]

What saved this guy was the observation skills of the aboriginal that spotted his footprint.
Who would believe that a few ants would sustain you anyway.
The story is an add for some sort of workshop you pay for with some yank who is claimed to be the god of tracking, what a croc.

[Gadgetgeek]

I agree. I don't know if its casual racism or what that lets people feel like some old white guy's half remembered survival strategy in the midst of a multitude of mistakes helped him survive over the almost super-human attention to detail of a man so connected with the area he was in that he not only noticed the footprint, but understood its importance. Saw the beginning of one of the news specials the other day, and couldn't keep watching. Just fawning over this guy instead of describing his "she'll be right" attitude as complete recklessness. Maybe they got the trackers into the story later, but not after mentioning the ants to death.

"Forced himself to eat them" give me a break. No disrespect to the lost gent, I'm sure that quote was coached out of him, but poor form on the news writers. Dangerous I think too, if people don't realize how close this guy was to death, I'm sure they are thinking about the lady up near cairns who kept going for weeks. Big difference when you have water. No real mention of that in the news stories.

[Lindsay]

This is the dick mentioned here: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=21568

[lee737]

Apparently he had a survival kit/GPS but didn't take it when he pursued the camel into the scrub.....
Just shows how you underestimate the Australian bush, or let your guard down even for a moment, and it can be unforgiving.

I might start carrying my PLB in my pocket rather than in my backpack.....

[wayno]

in nz, disorientation isnt as big a factor, you're in a valley or or a ridge and you usually know which direction it runs in and you've got a chance of orientating yourself, i cant remember the last time i used a compass, normally a map is enough to refer to

[Gadgetgeek]

Reasons I've got my ribz pack set up the way I do. No matter what's going on, I've got some basic gear on me at all times. Call it a bit of paranoia, but even a simple altoid tin kit would have helped him out. heck, even a lighter and a water bottle. survival gear is pointless unless its with you.

[GBW]

From the original article:

With no water or food, and wearing just shorts, a cap, T-shirt and thongs, the experienced bushman survived on black ants and walked for several days before sheltering under a tree where he was found, dehydrated and delusional.

How they can refer to this bloke as an "experienced bushman" is beyond me.

I joined a bushcraft/survival forum a while back and a lot of members seemed to think owning a big knife, driving a 4wd somewhere, lighting a huge fire, then sitting down with a slab of beer and carving a spoon was bushcraft.

[Gadgetgeek]

Because only experienced bushmen read 4wd action magazine.

[Hillwalk]

*)

[lee737]

He also didn't look like was 'surviving' - more like 'dying' - he just happened to get rescued in time.....

[vicrev]

Because only experienced bushmen read 4wd action magazine.

.............