A hiker missing for nine days in the Himalayan foothills of northern India says he ate insects to survive.
Samuel Vengrinovich, 44, endured harsh conditions with minimal food and water, and even a broken arm. Despite the challenges, he survived by eating insects and following a river in hopes of reaching the village of Dharamshala, according to his sister Natasha, who spoke to The Jerusalem Post.
Vengrinovich, an Israeli-American, disappeared on June 5 while hiking near Dharamshala, a town known as the spiritual hub of Tibetan Buddhism and home to the Dalai Lama. Family members say he had attended a talk by the Dalai Lama and then set off on a two-day trek along the Triund Hill route, starting June 6.
He had rented camping gear and brought limited supplies. However, when he failed to return to a group campsite by June 9, other hikers grew concerned. Natasha was alerted and discovered that his tent, most of his clothing, and his phone were still at the site. “He left with just a backpack and about a day's worth of food,” she told J. Weekly.
Natasha also told Fox affiliate KTVU in San Francisco that her brother left his phone behind and attempted to climb toward the snow line on a nearby ridge. While he encountered a few hikers during his ascent, he continued into higher elevations alone.
A large-scale search and rescue operation was launched, and on June 15, Vengrinovich was found alive. He is now recovering in an Indian hospital.
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