Getting lost or separated is every hiker’s worst nightmare, because who knows how long it’ll take before someone comes to the rescue? And without food or water, the situation can quickly turn dire. Yet these two hikers managed to survive and were rescued — all thanks to “just a straw.”
Eric Desplinter, 33, and Gabrielle Wallace, 31, got lost while hiking near Baldy Mountain in San Bernardino County, California. Not knowing what to do, they tapped into the human instinct to survive. Eric said that he and Gabrielle did their best to stay warm and rationed their food.
But what ultimately kept them alive was “a straw” — one that could purify water. Such straws are used by hikers and also in humanitarian efforts, such as providing clean drinking water to those without access. They used this straw to drink clean water.
According to foreign media reports, search and rescue teams from nearby areas spent days combing through an area of approximately 30 square miles. One search team discovered a set of footprints in the Cajon Canyon and tracked them down, eventually finding Eric and Gabrielle. In such situations, staying calm and thinking of ways to survive is key — panicking too much might just cost you your life.
