Fears held for British teenager Sam Woodhead, missing in Australian outback for two days

GlobalPost

A search is continuing for British teenager Sam Woodhead missing in Australia's outback for two days after going out for a run.

Woodhead, 18, from Richmond in southwest London, according to The Sun, was reported missing Tuesday from a cattle station near Longreach — a remote town in Australia where temperatures have averaged 104 degrees lately.

The college student, described as a fitness fanatic and experienced long-distance runner, had been in Australia only eight days and was working at Upshot Station, The Guardian wrote.

It quoted his mother as urging police to widen the search based on his ability to run long distances.

His sister, Rebecca, reported wrote on Facebook:

"If anyone hears from my brother please contact me ASAP."

The Fairfax media warned that Woodhead would have spent at least two nights exposed to dehydration, snake bite and injury.

Upshot Station is about 80 miles from Longreach itself.

Fairfax quoted survival instructor Nick Vroomans as saying a person could survive in the outback anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks, depending.

"If he's moving during the day and working really hard, he could be gone in 24 hours ...if he's stopped and looked after himself then he can last a few days, and if he's found water it could be two weeks."

He advised the best course of action for anyone lost in the outback to sit still and wait for help.


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