A 77-year-old cyclist survived three days only by drinking wine after falling down a ravine

And french cyclist 77 years old He survived three days after falling into a ravine in a mountainous area in the south of the country. Without water or foodits only source of energy was something I would never imagine use to save yourself.

The man was return home after shopping in a supermarket in the town of Grand Combein the region of Cevenaslocated to the south of the French Central Macizo.

During the trip, he took a wrong turn on the road RN 106which led him to a dangerous zone. During the ride, the cyclist lost control and fell down a slope between 40 and 50 meters to the riverbed Gardon Riveraccording to local media.

After the accident, he was trapped in the vegetation, unable to climb back to the route. Injured and disoriented, he spent hours waiting for help whilethe cold and the rain They complicated the situation even more.

According to the French press, every time he heard a noise on the road he shouted to ask for helpalthough without receiving a response for days.

What he carried in his backpack helped him survive

The shopping bag he had inside his backpack ended up being key to his survival. Inside, in addition to little food, there were several red wine bottles which, luckily, resisted the impact of the fall.

Thanks to those provisions, were able to stay hydrated and conserve energy facing the lack of food and low temperatures.

The Cévennes National Park. Photo: Shutterstock

The rescuers pointed out that the man even suffered new falls while trying to get out of the ravine and reach the road again. Furthermore, each attempt exposed him more to the risk of hypothermiasince it was outdoors and in contact with the water of the stream.

The rescue

Salvation only came on Tuesday afternoon, when some road maintenance workers spotted the frame of a bicycle in the area. As they approached, they heard their requests for help and immediately alerted emergency teams to initiate a rescue operation.

Firefighters and specialized personnel arrived at the area, where the terrain made access difficult. With the support of a Civil Security helicopter, They managed to descend to where the man was and coordinate a maneuver to get him to safety.

The cyclist was taken to Alès hospital with minor injuries and moderate hypothermia. Despite having spent three days in extreme conditions, he was stable at the time of admission.

One of the doctors who participated in the rescue, Laurent Savathassured that what happened was “a miracle«, taking into account the age of the cyclist, the adverse climate and the lack of basic resources. He also highlighted his strength to resist for so long, without giving up and seeking help until the end.

Local authorities stressed that the case demonstrates the importance of rapid communication in the event of any sign of an accident in rural or mountain areas. In this case, a simple clue – a bicycle frame – was enough to save a life.