Robert Bogucki
Robert Bogucki (born 1966) is an American firefighter from Alaska notable for having survived 43 days in Western Australia's Great Sandy Desert before being rescued. He had headed into the desert deliberately on a spiritual quest.[1][2]
Background
[edit]The Sandfire Roadhouse is 1,900 kilometres (1,200 mi) north of Perth in Western Australia. It is on the Great Northern Highway between Port Hedland and Broome, 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the coast. Bogucki left the roadhouse on 11 July 1999, initially on his bicycle. He intended to cross the Great Sandy Desert to Fitzroy Crossing. Police were called after his bicycle and a pile of clothes were found next to a track.[2]
Two Aboriginal trackers were called in to help, and a large search party searched for Bogucki but police called off the initial search for Bogucki 28 days after he had entered the desert, having damaged several vehicles and having found no trace of him.[2]
Family members hired a group of specialist trackers from the US to continue the search, and soon found fresh evidence that Bogucki had survived at least that long.[3]
Found
[edit]Bogucki was found by a Channel Nine news helicopter on 23 August 1999 in Western Australia's Edgar Ranges, 400 kilometres (250 mi) away from where he set off.[4] Bogucki's subsequent treatment by the Channel Nine crew raised questions as to the extent to which they had ignored his well-being in order to secure an exclusive news story. Channel Nine's crew filmed an interview with Bogucki on the spot, then flew him back to Broome (instead of the nearby search camp).[5] With there only being four seats in the helicopter, West Australian photographer Robert Duncan was left behind with a bottle of water and an EPIRB.[6][7] After going without food for about six weeks and water for twelve days, Bogucki had lost 30 kilograms (66 lb) during the ordeal.[8] He found water by digging and straining mud, but also drank from stagnant pools. Later he took to eating flowers and plants. Medical staff at Broome Hospital said his physical condition was "remarkable".[4]
Dramatisation & awards
[edit]Bogucki's story and the search for him were made into an episode of the three-part ABC series Miracles, entitled "Miracle in the Desert".[8]
Robert Duncan, West Australian photographer, won the 1999 Daily News Centenary Prize WA Media Awards[9] (informally known as the Gold Award, or the WA Journalist of the Year) for his involvement, photos and coverage of the search.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Wendy Lewis (2007). See Australia and Die: Tales Of Misadventure Down Under. New Holland. ISBN 978-1-74110-583-4.
- ^ a b c Parke, Erin (6 July 2025). "Finding Robert Bogucki, the man who disappeared on purpose". ABC News. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
- ^ "Lost in the Desert" (PDF). 1st Special Response Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
- ^ a b "American found after outback odyssey". BBC News. 23 August 1999. Archived from the original on 2 October 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
- ^ mubd1234's Aussie Media Archive (15 January 2015). Media Watch - Robert Bogucki and the Australian Media Frenzy - 30 August 1999 - with Richard Ackland. Retrieved 10 August 2024 – via YouTube.
{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "A Current Affair Catch Their Bogucki-man". MediaWatch. ABC.net.au. 30 August 1999. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ Lowth, Adrienne (24 August 1999). "Channel Nine under fire over Bogucki actions". ABC.net.au. Archived from the original on 1 October 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
- ^ a b Steve Beck. "Miracles". ABC Commercial. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ "1999 | WA Media Awards |". www.wamediaawards.com.au. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2017.