Martin Lake, A 50-year-old British man, left a well-marked path at a historical telegraph station on the outskirts of Alice Springs in Outback Australia. He spent three days wandering. He wore only a T-shirt and shorts, and he had three liters of water but no food.

A cell phone call to police instigated a search involving three helicopters and police officers, rangers, and Aboriginal trackers on foot. He was found a few miles from town, almost shouting distance away, according to police.

Mr. Lake was treated for dehydration and sunburn after being flown to a hospital.

Not content with only one brush with death, he returned to the desert after being released. He set out to recover some belongings and got lost again in the red rocky desert and dry scrub brush. Soon lost, he made another panicked call to police.

"He told me he was somewhere north of Alice Springs and that's about it," said Sgt Graeme Farquharson, the search co-ordinator. "He didn't have a clue where he was."

Mr. Lake, a divorcee and former trainee policeman, was rescued by helicopter four nights later. Again, he was three miles from Alice Springs.

Again he had broken the cardinal rules of desert wilderness survival - he had no hat or sunscreen, not enough water, and he had failed to tell anyone where he was going.

Northern Territory police, who were surprised that he did not call earlier, said he was in Alice Springs hospital where he was being "assessed" both physically and mentally.

Dave Hunt, the manager of the Memorial Club, where Mr. Lake drank beer before his mishaps, said: "The first time, everyone was thinking 'poor bugger'. But the second time we were thinking, he must have something wrong in his head - why would he go back? You'd have thought he'd have said to himself, 'Jesus, that's one place I'm going to stay away from'."

Submitted on 11/24/2006

Submitted by: Janine Peterson
Reference: Darwin Awards Homepage

Copyright © 2006 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Neutral: For Darwin's Eyes
Thanks, Janine! Even though we already have this in the slush pile, the fact that you took the time to do a re-write is duly noted and appreciated. I will pass this on to Darwin for her approval!

Graham said:
Definitely Toss: Other
Thank you for your submission, but we are already working on a version of this story and there is no any new information here.

Jack said:
Neutral: For Darwin's Eyes

Shadow said:
Neutral: For Darwin's Eyes
yeah though we have a version, i think this rewrite could be better. let Darwin decide.

Chip said:
Neutral: For Darwin's Eyes
I'll concur with James, although I think that this one could be much more humorous in write-up. The potential is there for a solid HM, but the mental assessment concerns me as well. Thanks for the re-write Janine.

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