A Scottish pensioner declared it was “quite an adventure” as he was plucked from a snake-infested river in Thailand after embarking on an Indiana Jones-type Boy’s Own escapade.
The seventy seven year outdated Scot discovered himself marooned in his inflatable dinghy for nearly seven hours in the treacherous waters of Udon Thani province. Initially setting out for a leisurely kayak cruise on Sunday, Martin Grant was soon mired in mud, and his flimsy craft succumbed to the treacherous waters teeming with snakes.
Despite suffering solely minor cuts and a torn pair of shorts in the course of the ordeal, Police Captain Pongpat Kerkpiboonchai noted that the Aberdonian man’s survival was a stroke of luck. The river is residence to a big selection of creatures, together with pythons, cobras, leeches, lizards, and notably aggressive mosquitoes, as reported by the Daily Record. Upon being rescued, Grant quipped, “It was fairly an journey.”
“I’m really grateful to all those who assisted in my rescue. I wouldn’t have wished to spend the entire evening stranded there.”
On Sunday afternoon, the Scottish pensioner set off from his home and launched his kayak on the river. However, he found himself overpowered by the current after overlaying a distance of around two to three miles downstream.
“My kayak sank, and I started to panic. Luckily, there was a small island in the water that I could cling to. I had my cellphone, so I called for help, although I knew the battery wouldn’t last forever. I didn’t have enough supplies.”
Around Now , Police Captain Pongpat and his rescue group, together with a translator, arrived at the river after coordinated efforts from numerous departments to locate the Scottish pensioner. Eventually, investigators situated Grant’s parked Mazda, and by 10pm, they had pinpointed the place of the kayak utilizing GPS aerial maps.
Following his rescue, Grant received primary first aid however declined additional medical attention, as reported by the Daily Record. Police Captain Pongpat expressed collective relief upon finding the Scottish Pensioner.
“Different departments collaborated to rescue the foreigner, and it was a hit. This stretch of the river is rife with pythons, making the man’s survival all the extra remarkable.”