USA
81-year-old man trapped in snowstorm for days – survives thanks to biscuits and croissants
An 81-year-old man was stuck in this car for days
© INYO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Heavy storms with enormous amounts of snow surprised the USA in the last few days. An 81-year-old man also unexpectedly ended up in a snowstorm – but was able to survive thanks to sweet travel provisions.
Christian Jouret no longer really believed that he would see his grandfather healthy and alive again. After all, Jerry Jouret left California almost a week ago, but did not arrive at his destination in Nevada: On his journey he was surprised by enormous amounts of snow, which fell up to 90 centimeters in northern California.
It was hard to imagine that he could simply free himself from the situation. According to the authorities, at least 13 people died during the storms and the situation did not look good for Jouret either: he landed his car in a snowdrift on a less busy street and could neither go forward nor back.
Search teams were in California to find buried people
© INYO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
The fact that the situation did not become a death sentence for him is thanks to the former NASA employee’s ingenuity – and a TV show. As his grandson told the BBC, Jouret recalled episodes of the show “Survivor” in which people are abandoned in remote places. For one, it was important for him to stay warm. Although Jouret was only wearing a light jacket at the time of the accident, he also wrapped himself in a thin blanket and towel. He also tried to get the most out of the car battery: by repeatedly switching off the car, he was able to use the electricity for almost three and a half days.
Happy ending: Jerry Jouret managed to survive in the snow for days.
© Christian Jouret
The 81-year-old man also used his inventiveness to combat hunger and thirst: he ate biscuits and croissants as food. In order not to die of thirst, he rolled down the window and ate snow. It almost ended up being his downfall, too, because the car battery died on his last attempt and the window couldn’t be closed at temperatures below zero degrees Celsius.
Despite these odds, Jouret managed to survive two more days before being rescued. Another miracle: after he was taken to the hospital, the doctors there found no signs of hypothermia. A real happy ending for his grandson Christian Jouret: “It was difficult for us to imagine that a man had achieved so much in his life and created such a legacy, then got stuck in his car and died of hypothermia.”
Source:BBC