UNIT 7: EXTREME SITUATIONS

UNIT 7 : EXTREME SITUATIONS

(Reading Comprehension)
Let's read an incredible story

by TEACHER NATHASYA

Man survives three months
in NT outbaCK

A man says he ate leeches, grasshoppers and snakes to survive three months
lost in the harsh Northern Territory outback.
Ricky Megee, 35, of Brisbane, says he shed 60kg after becoming lost in the desert
near the NT/West Australian border in January, but survived by drinking water
from a dam.
Workers at Birrindudu Station found Mr Megee starving and deeply tanned last
week about 50km from the homestead, and he was flown to a hospital in Darwin.
Authorities say it was clear he had been in the outback "for a considerable time".
However, there may be some doubts over aspects of his story.

"I ate the leeches raw, straight out of the dam, grasshoppers I just ate them," Mr Megee told ABC
Radio.
"But the only thing I really sort of had to cook was the frogs which (I) slipped onto a bit of wire
and stuck the wire on top of my humpy, let the sun dry them out a fair bit until they were a bit
crispy and then just ate them."
It is unclear how Mr Megee became lost.
He said the last thing he remembers is driving down the Buntine Highway, on his way to Port
Hedland in Western Australia.
"The last thing I remember is driving up the road getting a bit dazed and confused, then the next
thing I remember I woke up and I was face down on a hole with a bit of plastic thrown over me
with some rocks and some dirt thrown on top," he said.

"What basically woke me up was there was four dingoes scratching at the plastic trying to
get at me."
A NT police spokeswoman said Mr Megee was interviewed by police while he was in
hospital.
"... This man spent a considerable amount of time in this area at various dams and
waterholes surviving off the bush," police said in a statement.
But the police investigation has not uncovered any evidence "to suggest any criminal
offences have been committed", it said.
Nor had they been able to find Mr Megee's vehicle, a 2001 white Mitsubishi Challenger
station wagon with Queensland registration 398-GDY.
Mr Megee has reportedly sought $5,000 from a commercial television station for his story.

Royal Darwin Hospital medical director Len Notaras said Mr Megee's condition was
consistent with having spent some time in the bush.
Dr Notaras said he was tanned and severely underweight when he arrived at the
hospital on April 5.
He spent six days being treated and was released two days ago.
"When he arrived his weight was around 45kg, which is fairly low for a man of about six
feet three inches (1.90m)," Mr Notaras said.
"He was described ... as emaciated, but he was well hydrated and responded very well
over the next few days up until he left hospital.
"It's possible he was in the bush for a period of time.

Bush Tucker Man Les Hiddens said it was possible to survive for three
months in the bush, with frogs, grasshoppers and water.
"Obviously, there are some areas where it's difficult to survive, and
others where you can," Mr Hiddens said.
"He might have pulled up the odd snake and that sort of thing as well.
"I can see no reason why itUwseothuisldfonr a'tpbhoetotchaepticona.se.
"If he's pulling some sort of stunt, he (has done) himself some damage."