Man in desert survives on beer and urine
INSIDE EDITION - An Arizona man is counting his blessings this week after a weekend drive into the desert nearly caused him to lose his life.
Mick Ohman spent more than two days in the punishing wilds north of Phoenix and told reporters he only managed to survive the first night thanks to a couple of beers, some crackers and his own urine.
"I've really never felt that thirsty before. When I tried to swallow I couldn't. My throat stuck together. I had to urinate and I did… and I was surprised it wasn't as obnoxious as I thought it would be," Ohman told ABC15.
Ohman's brush with death started when he decided to drive to Crown King, a "ghost town" tourist destination that sits over 4,000 feet above sea level.
After eating lunch, Ohman decided to take back roads home, which he says was one of many mistakes he made including neglecting to tell anyone where he was going that day.
Before long, Ohman found himself all alone with his Honda CRV stuck on a primitive back road. He had only half a bottle of water, a couple of beers, a spoiled sandwich and some crackers.
Ohman believes it was his small cache of supplies—and urine—that allowed him to survive the intense dry heat of his first day.
But those supplies began to run out and Ohman said his situation began to feel dire once again.
He even recorded a video on his cell phone in which he said goodbye to his loved ones.
“If you find this phone and I didn't do so well, please tell my sisters how much I love them," he said.
Determination, however, would help Ohman survive. He found a tiny stream before monsoon rains solved his water problem.
At the start of day three, Ohman set out determined to find his way to safety. However, it wasn't long before the heat got the best of him and he again lost hope.
But just as he did, a dirt biker rider happened by.
"All of a sudden, up over the horizon, Troy appeared," he said.
Ohman hitched a ride with Troy back to civilization, leaving the danger—but not the life lessons—behind.
He said he plans never to rely exclusively on Google Maps again and that, next time he sets out for a day trip, he'll let a neighbor know where he's going.