Saudi Arabia, April 13: A Saudi family went through a terrifying experience last week when they got stranded in the desert for over 24 hours. The family was travelling in a remote area south of Al-Dawadmi, a region in central Saudi Arabia, when their car got stuck in the sand. They had no access to food, water or mobile phone signal to call for help. Netizens advised the family members to avoid going on an adventure trip without proper preparations.
The details of the incident was shared on Facebook by "KSA Expats". The incident came to light on social media on April 7. With no way to contact anyone and no supplies, the family had to rely on extreme survival methods. They drank water from the car’s radiator to stay hydrated and ate leaves from desert plants to keep from starving. The hot desert temperatures and the lack of shade made the situation even more dangerous.
Search and Rescue Operation
When the family was reported missing, the Saudi volunteer rescue team "Enjad" began a large-scale search operation. Enjad is known for helping locate missing people, especially in remote areas like deserts and mountains.
The rescue team used drones to scan the vast desert from above and also sent ground search teams to cover areas on foot and in vehicles. It was a race against time, as being exposed in the desert for too long can lead to severe dehydration, heatstroke or worse.
Family Found Safe
After more than 24 hours, the family was finally found about 50 kilometers away from their last known location, near the Halban Desert. They had managed to walk a long distance in search of help, which helped the rescuers locate them more easily.
Some family members were suffering from dehydration, but overall, their condition was stable. The Enjad team immediately gave them water, food and medical attention. Thanks to the quick response and efforts of the rescue team, all family members were safely brought back and are now recovering.
Praise for the Rescue Team
Many people in Saudi Arabia have praised the Enjad volunteer team for their dedication and bravery. The incident has highlighted the importance of preparations when travelling through remote desert areas.
Internet users commented to the viral post and advised the family not to go on such adventure trip without proper preparations. One of the users said, "Not prepared when going out into the desert is a dangerous mistake. Sandboards, extra water, flares, extra food etc."
Another user said, "TIP: For sand dunes, deflate the tires 15psi. This will enable the tire to wide spread. Move the steering slowly right and left til the car movesout from the sand. Hope this will help."
