PA

An adventuring survivalist who planned to "live like Bear Grylls" for a year has been found dead in the Scottish wilderness. He is believed to have survived less than a month.

According to reports in The Scotsman, tragedy struck when the body of David Austin, 29, from Derby, was found in a hut or 'bothy' by a railway worker near Corrour, a remote railway station in Highland Perthshire.

Experts believe his body may have been lying there for several weeks when it was discovered.

The newspaper reports that he had told his family he was heading to the Highlands to live out his dream of surviving in the wilderness. One of the last times he was seen alive was in the Rannoch area (pictured above).

PA Mr Austin planned to live rough on a year-long adventure, using techniques similar to those used by adventurer and TV presenter Bear Grylls (pictured above)- although his family and friends reportedly urged him to reconsider.

He is reported to have attended several courses in outdoor survival and bushcraft skills over the past couple of years with a view to realising a long-held dream of living alone in the wild.

Tragically, Mr Austin is thought to not even have taken a mobile phone with him.

Survival school instructor Ian Moran, who teaches extreme survival and bushcraft skills, told The Scotsman that it was extremely unlikely anybody could survive a Highland winter outdoors by living off the land.

He said: "It would be a tall order for even the most professional person who calls himself a survivalist.

"Maybe centuries ago, when Scotland was covered in woodland and teeming with wildlife, but not now."

Submitted on 01/24/2012

Submitted by: David Fox
Reference: AOL Travel Jan 21 2012

Copyright © 2012 DarwinAwards.com

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Ignoring instructors who warn that even professionals wouldn't attempt it? Sounds like a winner to me! Thanks, David.

Candi said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Wait... a *Highland* winter!? Living off the land!? What was he *thinking*!?!?! Thanks, David!

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