Motorcycle rider survives 4 months lost in the Andes
58 year old, Raul Fernando Gomez was found alive last Sunday. Unfortunately, his story of remarkable endurance has taken a sombre turn.
Gomez was in Mendoza (Argentina) for a motorcycle riders meet-up. After enjoying some great roads in the south of the country, he rode his motorcycle to Chile to visit his relatives. When his motorcycle broke down, he left it in a Chilean town and decided to cross the frontier to Argentina on foot. As a safety measure, before setting off, he asked his family to alert police if he didn't arrive by May18th, 2013. What Gomez didn't count on was a snowstorm causing him to lose his way.
Uruguayan rider Raul Gomez - Rescue
Gomez's family did alert police as he asked, however, authorities didn't start looking for him until the end of June! He managed to survive by eating raisins and rats. Luckily, he found a shelter named ‟Ingeniero Sardinas” that was built in the 50's. It was located in El Paso de los Patos at 2,840 meters (9,318 feet) above sea level and often used by climbers.
Raul Gonzales and the Governor of San Juan
Pilots taking snow measures in the area found him. "He was so happy. Even though he had experienced extreme hunger and anguish he still had hope to leave the place".
The Governor visited Raul Fernando Gonzales in hospital, where he is now receiving treatment for extreme dehydration. ‟This is a miracle, still we cannot believe it!” said the Governor of the Province, Jose Luis Gioja.
An official in the Chilean prosecutor's office in Santiago confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday that Gomez is wanted in Chile's capital for investigation of child sex abuse allegations. A warrant was issued for his arrest on April 22, 2013 and Chile is now seeking his extradition to face charges.
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More about this story from the Associated Press and the National Post.
