BELGIAN HIKER HAPPY TO BE ALIVE
BY BRIAN LEZUTUNI
Fresh from a 13 days ordeal that saw him surviving on eating seeds and grains of rice, Belgian hiker Stephen Fries spoke of his gratitude towards those responsible for his rescue at a press conference yesterday.
With girlfriend Stefanie Jansen by his side the pale looking 26 year old, acknowledged combined efforts taken by both local and International teams to locate and rescue him given the grim prospect of survival on Guadalcanal’s dense jungle.
He gave credit to amongst others the Participating Police Force along with the Royal Solomon Islands Police, the British High Commission, along with the two locals who first raised the alarm of his whereabouts.
The Belgian hiker was winched to safety from dense jungle at Ohe, South West of Mbetikama on Tuesday, nearly a fortnight from when he embarked on a seven day cross- country trek across Guadalcanal.
He had just started on his planned bushwalk from the Poha River west of Honiara to Tangarare on the South West of the Island when torrential rain caused widespread flooding on Guadalcanal.
Mr. Stevens said that he became lost after floods caused streams along his path to overflow and become rivers.
“I was lucky not to have swept away by the floods that I later realized caused much damage to lives and properties on the Island,” he said.
“I have not seen anything like it before as huge volumes of water forced me to take a detour from the path chosen for this expedition.
Armed with only a bush knife Mr. Stevens was able to collect seeds to eat along with grains of rice he carried with him on his journey to sustain him after his rations ran out.
“For a total of 7 days I was without food and no hope of surviving the ordeal as the landscape with steep mountains and countless waterfalls made my hope of finding a way out seemed impossible,” He stated.
Mr. Stevens then concentrated on following a river that he hoped would take him out to sea.
He said a bright point throughout his experience came on the seventh day when sunlight came out and brought with it a helicopter that circled over him four times,”
“The joy of seeing a helicopter was exciting but the landscape made the task of locating me all the more difficult as all the green stuff I had with me blended well with the jungle,” Mr. Stevens said.
It was not until Samson Isik and Karasio Bofo from Mbabanakira raised the alarm on Monday evening after sighting him on their way to Tinghe did the PPF pinpoint his actual whereabouts.
The Belgian although shaky from his experience ruled out this being his last hiking expedition.
“I will continue to hike but next time around will be more prepared for situations like this.
The couple is planning to leave the country on the 17th of this month for New Zealand.
The British High Commissioner Timothy Smart on behalf of the European Community thanked all who participated in the search and rescue of Mr. Stevens.
“I’m grateful that Mr. Stevens can be in time to see his Girlfriend ahead of Valentine’s Day.
“I know the task is difficult but through local knowledge and modern equipments Mr. Stevens was successfully rescued.
The British High Commissioner on that note paid tribute to those who have suffered from the recent flooding on Guadalcanal adding that their thoughts and prayers are with relatives of those whose fate was unlike Mr. Stevens.
With girlfriend Stefanie Jansen by his side the pale looking 26 year old, acknowledged combined efforts taken by both local and International teams to locate and rescue him given the grim prospect of survival on Guadalcanal’s dense jungle.
He gave credit to amongst others the Participating Police Force along with the Royal Solomon Islands Police, the British High Commission, along with the two locals who first raised the alarm of his whereabouts.
The Belgian hiker was winched to safety from dense jungle at Ohe, South West of Mbetikama on Tuesday, nearly a fortnight from when he embarked on a seven day cross- country trek across Guadalcanal.
He had just started on his planned bushwalk from the Poha River west of Honiara to Tangarare on the South West of the Island when torrential rain caused widespread flooding on Guadalcanal.
Mr. Stevens said that he became lost after floods caused streams along his path to overflow and become rivers.
“I was lucky not to have swept away by the floods that I later realized caused much damage to lives and properties on the Island,” he said.
“I have not seen anything like it before as huge volumes of water forced me to take a detour from the path chosen for this expedition.
Armed with only a bush knife Mr. Stevens was able to collect seeds to eat along with grains of rice he carried with him on his journey to sustain him after his rations ran out.
“For a total of 7 days I was without food and no hope of surviving the ordeal as the landscape with steep mountains and countless waterfalls made my hope of finding a way out seemed impossible,” He stated.
Mr. Stevens then concentrated on following a river that he hoped would take him out to sea.
He said a bright point throughout his experience came on the seventh day when sunlight came out and brought with it a helicopter that circled over him four times,”
“The joy of seeing a helicopter was exciting but the landscape made the task of locating me all the more difficult as all the green stuff I had with me blended well with the jungle,” Mr. Stevens said.
It was not until Samson Isik and Karasio Bofo from Mbabanakira raised the alarm on Monday evening after sighting him on their way to Tinghe did the PPF pinpoint his actual whereabouts.
The Belgian although shaky from his experience ruled out this being his last hiking expedition.
“I will continue to hike but next time around will be more prepared for situations like this.
The couple is planning to leave the country on the 17th of this month for New Zealand.
The British High Commissioner Timothy Smart on behalf of the European Community thanked all who participated in the search and rescue of Mr. Stevens.
“I’m grateful that Mr. Stevens can be in time to see his Girlfriend ahead of Valentine’s Day.
“I know the task is difficult but through local knowledge and modern equipments Mr. Stevens was successfully rescued.
The British High Commissioner on that note paid tribute to those who have suffered from the recent flooding on Guadalcanal adding that their thoughts and prayers are with relatives of those whose fate was unlike Mr. Stevens.
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