WA:Man says he would not have survived another day in the desert
25 Feb 2009 7:22 PM
PERTH, Feb 25 AAP - A partially-disabled man who walked for three days in the West Australian desert with his adult son says he would not have lasted another day if he had not been found by another family member.
Trevor Wingo, 53, said he and his son and disabled brother found themselves stranded in temperatures of up to 40 degrees after their car broke down near Meekatharra, 765km north-east of Perth.
They had little water with them when they became stuck in a river bed crossing on an isolated road 150km from the mining town.
He and his son set off in search of help, leaving his brother and walking for three days.
They survived by drinking from waterholes and dams.
Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) spokeswoman Carolyn Monaghan said Mr Wingo, who has a permanent leg injury, was probably saved by his Aboriginal bush skills.
She said a member of Mr Wingo's extended family, who had been searching for the pair, eventually found them and took them to Meekatharra, where both were admitted to hospital.
The disabled brother was believed to have been found earlier, and had not required treatment, she said.
Mr Wingo was flown to Perth with the RFDS and remained in a stable condition after suffering from dehydration and low sodium levels.
In hospital recovering, Mr Wingo told the Ten Network: "I want to praise my Lord for helping me because I wouldn't be here, another day and I wouldn't be here."
His son was kept at Meekatharra hospital for observation overnight.
