Lost in the wild for 10 days 18-year-old hiker survives on toothpaste and sheer luck

In a story straight out of a survival thriller, 18-year-old Sun Liang¡¯s adventure in China¡¯s Qinling Mountains turned into a near-death experience when he found himself stranded for 10 days in the freezing wilderness. What started as an ambitious solo trek on February 8 quickly spiraled into a battle for survival after his electronic devices died, cutting him off from the world.

How an 18-year-old¡¯s adventure took a dangerous turn

The Ao-Tai Line, a 170-km-long treacherous route between Ao Mountain and Taibai Mountain, is infamous for its brutal weather shifts and hazardous terrain. Despite a government ban on hiking this trail since 2018, thrill-seekers continue to test their fate. Sun, a seasoned climber with three snowy peaks under his belt, was unaware of the restrictions and set off in pursuit of a new challenge. Little did he know, this challenge would soon have him questioning his very existence.

Credit: QQ.com

Toothpaste for survival

By February 10, when his family lost contact with him, he was already in survival mode. He drank river water, melted snow, and, brace yourself, even resorted to eating toothpaste to stay alive. His journey to safety wasn¡¯t any easier. With a fractured right arm from multiple falls and battered by extreme winds, he took shelter behind a massive rock, fashioning a makeshift bed from dry leaves and straw.

His family, fearing the worst, alerted a search and rescue team, and a full-scale hunt began. Luck turned in Sun¡¯s favor on February 17 when, while trying to start a fire, he caught a whiff of smoke nearby. Wasting no time, he screamed for help, and the rescuers finally located him.

His message after escaping death

Post-rescue, Sun took to social media to warn others against hiking the Ao-Tai Line. He described the ordeal as "terrifying" and outright condemned the idea of trekking the route, emphasizing that unpredictable weather, dangerous wildlife, and the sheer difficulty made it unfit for any hiker. The rescue operation cost his family a whopping 80,000 yuan (?9.1 lakh), and authorities hope the financial burden will deter future daredevils. A rescue team member stressed that the trek is a risk not just to hikers but also to the rescuers who endure extreme conditions to save them.

Credit: QQ.com

Sun¡¯s ordeal is yet another addition to the growing list of reckless hiking incidents. Just last year, a man in Taiwan survived 10 days in a ravine by blocking a water pipe, proving yet again that sometimes adventure can be a little too wild to handle.