Survival Against the Odds: How a Former Plumber Escaped a Canyon

 

Hiker Survives 10-Day Ordeal After Falling Into Canyon

A 54-year-old man from Taiwan, a former plumber, survived a 10-day ordeal after falling into a 10-meter-deep canyon while hiking alone. Using his ingenuity, he managed to alert others to his location and was successfully rescued.

On December 8, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that Mr. Chang was rescued after being stranded for 10 days in Fenghuang Mountain near Nantou City. While hiking alone on November 12, he fell into a canyon, injuring his right leg, which made it impossible for him to walk. Moreover, he didn’t have a phone to call for help. Despite the challenges, Mr. Chang did not lose hope and worked on finding a way to escape.

While surveying the area, he found a PVC pipe that supplied water to a nearby village. He also noticed a plant called "giant taro," which had strong stems and large leaves. Using his Swiss army knife, he cut the water pipe and sealed it with the stems of the giant taro to block the flow of water to the village. On the 10th day, the villagers noticed the disrupted water supply, traced the source of the problem, and found Mr. Chang.

When rescued, Mr. Chang was conscious but had injuries to his right leg and left hip. He was taken to a hospital and treated for his injuries. Local residents praised his cleverness, commenting, "He’s so smart. I would have just waited and drunk water every day."

SCMP noted that similar survival stories have occurred in the past. In 2022, a man in Sichuan, China, survived 17 days after an earthquake by drinking moss water and eating wild kiwis. In 2021, a teenage boy in Canada survived being lost in the mountains by building a snow cave to stay warm.

A. Write the correct word for each definition.

• to fall suddenly from a high place → __________
• a large deep valley with steep sides → __________
• to stop water from moving through a pipe or channel → __________
• to find a solution using clever ideas or skills → __________
• a tool with a blade and other small tools, often used outdoors → __________

B. Read the questions and discuss with your teacher.

1. Have you ever been hiking alone? Why or why not?
2. What would you do if you got lost in the mountains?
3. Do you think it’s dangerous to hike alone? Why?
4. How would you feel if you had to survive for 10 days in the wild?
5. If you could carry one survival tool, what would it be? Why?
6. Do you think you would be able to stay calm and think clearly in a survival situation?
7. How do you think knowledge of survival skills can save lives?

C. Individual Research

Compare and contrast survival stories. Fill in the blanks with more examples from the article.

• Successful survival strategies:
• Use available resources creatively.
• Cut off a water supply to attract attention.
• ________________________
• ________________________
• ________________________
• Challenges faced by survivors:
• Injuries that make it hard to move.
• Lack of communication tools, such as a phone.
• ________________________
• ________________________
• ________________________

Answers

• A:
• fall
• canyon
• block
• ingenuity
• Swiss army knife