Stunned rescuers discovered Raul Fernando Gomez Circunegui, 58, emaciated and weak on the floor of a shelter at 9,318ft. He had lost three stone but at a tearful reunion yesterday his daughter said: “He’ll be OK. It’s a miracle”.
His wife Mariela alerted police but a search had to be called off as the treacherous weather closed all trails across the mountain range. The dad-of-three was found by officials from Argentina’s San Juan province who had been sent to record snow levels.
His wife Mariela alerted police but a search had to be called off as the treacherous weather closed all trails across the mountain range. The dad-of-three was found by officials from Argentina’s San Juan province who had been sent to record snow levels.
He dragged himself to the shelter’s door to alert them and a helicopter lifted him off the mountain. The civil servant, who has high blood pressure and a history of smoking, told rescuers he ate sugar, raisins and rats he trapped as well as supplies left over in the shelter.
At hospital in Argentina today his daughter Patricia said: “He’s doing well and is delighted to have been rescued. It’s a miracle.
“Dad’s always been adventurous. I’m going to make sure he never does anything like this again. "He’s got anaemia and he’s suffered dehydration but he’s going to be OK.”
San Juan Governor Jose Luis Gioja also met Raul at hospital. He said: “We can’t believe it.
"He was very excited but exhausted. He’s very thin, his bones are sticking through his skin.”
One rescuer said: “We were measuring snow levels when we saw Raul making hand signs to us. He was weak but totally lucid.
"He suffered hunger and anxiety but he kept his hopes up and was very happy to see us. The only thing he had left to eat was a bit of dried meat.”
Medics said Raul, from Bella Union, north Uruguay, would be home within days.
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