18-year-old hiker stayed alive for 10 days eating snow and toothpaste

^{Foto: Shutterstock/Douyin}
An 18-year-old traveler, Sun Liang, set out to hike the Qinling mountain range in Shaanxi province alone but lost his way. He survived for 10 days by eating snow and toothpaste, South China Morning Post reported.

The tourist began his journey on February 8. Two days later, his phone and other electronic devices ran out of battery, cutting off communication with his family. Sun Liang decided to follow a stream downward but fell multiple times, breaking his right arm.

To protect himself from strong winds, he hid behind a large rock and made a bed out of dry straw and leaves. For hydration, he drank melted snow and stream water and consumed toothpaste for sustenance.

On February 17, rescue teams found Sun Liang. The search operation began at the request of his family. Reports indicate that he is the first person to be rescued alive in this area after going missing.

Over the past 20 years, more than 50 tourists have either gone missing or died in this region. In 2018, local authorities banned visits to the area, but some travelers continue to venture there.

Despite this, some adventurers still boldly pursue hikes there. Remarkably, Sun is believed to be the first individual rescued after becoming lost in this perilous region.

Sun shared that he has developed a passion for hiking over the past year and has successfully climbed three renowned snowy mountains in the country. He admitted he was unaware of the Ao-Tai Line’s ban, asserting that his motivation for hiking there was simply to “meet the challenge”.

“I feel terrified after the incident,” Sun expressed on social media following his rescue. “This area is not suitable for hiking at all. 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. Follow “Zamin” news on “Telegram”