Missing Hiker Survives Six Days After Devastating Fall in Norway
After falling in Norways Folgefonna National Park and surviving six days with broken bones limited food and no phone journalist Alec Luhn is found alive His wife reunites with him and playfully warns “I’m going to tear you a new one later—but for now I really love you” .
FOOT OF NORWAY — In late July seasoned climate journalist Alec Luhn embarked on a solo four day hike through Norways Folgefonna National Park a region known for its glaciers and rugged beauty What began as a peaceful trek quickly turned into a battle for survival after a devastating fall left him stranded for nearly a week .
The Fall and Devastating Injuries
On July 31 Luhn slipped while navigating a steep mountainside .
“I just remember sliding… pinballing down the mountain” he later recalled .
The tumble was catastrophic He broke his femur fractured his pelvis and sustained multiple spinal fractures His backpack tore open during the fall sending his phone tumbling into the wilderness Immobilized and without a way to call for help he lay in shock at the mercy of the elements .
Rationing Makeshift Shelter and Extreme Measures
Despite his injuries Luhns instincts kicked in He constructed a small shelter using a tent pole a rain jacket and his sleeping bag for warmth With no mobility and little food survival became a grim calculation .
His supplies—granola bars and peanuts—quickly dwindled and dehydration made it nearly impossible to swallow In desperation Luhn resorted to drinking his own urine At one point he even popped a blister on his hand and sipped the blood for hydration .
On the third day rain offered a lifeline He collected every droplet he could by licking water pooled in the creases of his sleeping bag “It was the best thing I ever tasted” he said But the storm also drenched him raising the risk of hypothermia .
What kept him going he explained was the thought of his wife and family
“Being trapped on that mountain gave me a chance to see what I would regret if I died” he reflected .
Search Rescue and Reunion
When Luhn failed to return home to the UK by August 4 his wife Veronika Silchenko reported him missing Search efforts began immediately though poor weather slowed progress .
On August 6 six days after his fall rescuers finally located him He was conscious but severely weakened suffering not only from his broken bones but also frostbite on both feet He was airlifted to a hospital in Bergen Norway where doctors began intensive treatment before planning his transfer back to Britain .
When his wife reunited with him her first words were both tender and teasing
“I’m going to tear you a new one later—but for now I really love you”
Luhn ever the journalist asked for pen and paper almost immediately to begin recording his ordeal .
A New Outlook and Safety Oath
The experience left Luhn with a new perspective on life Speaking to ABC News he admitted .
“All of that just pales in comparison to the love of your family”
His wife has since made him promise never to embark on another solo trek Doctors remain optimistic about his recovery though it will take months of rehabilitation to heal from his injuries .
Survival in the Wild A Timeline
- July 31 – Luhn falls on first day of hike sustaining severe injuries .
- Aug 1–2 – Struggles with dehydration builds makeshift shelter .
- Aug 3 – Rain provides water but increases exposure risk .
- Aug 4 – Reported missing by wife after missing return .
- Aug 6 – Located by rescuers and airlifted to hospital in Bergen .
Resilience in the Face of Nature
Alec Luhns story is a testament to both the dangers of wilderness exploration and the resilience of the human spirit Even with broken bones no food and no way to call for help he endured through sheer determination resourcefulness and the love of his family .
For Luhn survival wasn’t just about enduring the wilderness—it was about realizing what truly matters .