WA: US adventurer wanted to spend time on his own

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-1999
WA: US adventurer wanted to spend time on his own

American adventurer ROBERT BOGUCKI, rescued weak but alive after 43 days trekking across
one of Australia's harshest deserts today, says he just wanted to spend a while on his own.

The 33-year-old was found hungry, tired and bewildered in a maze of gorges in Western
Australia's remote Edgar Ranges, where he had been drinking muddy water to survive.

Rescuers and bush experts are amazed the volunteer Alaskan fireman is still alive after
walking more than 400 kms across the Great Sandy Desert.

He ran out of food a few days after starting his journey on July 11 and was forced to eat
native grasses and berries.

Mr BOGUCKI, who was found early today, wandering along a creek bed 180km south east of
Broome, says he has had enough of walking around.

Recovering in hospital in Broome, Mr BOGUCKI struggled to explain the motive for his daring
but ill-fated journey, saying he specifically couldn't say what he wanted.

Having lost a third of his body weight, he denies he was lost, saying he just wanted to
spend a while on his own to make peace with God.

AAP RTV alm/pr/sp/wz

KEYWORD: CYCLIST (BROOME)

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