Survival Story Of A Man Lost in Sahara Desert For 10 Days

Mauro Prosperi (born July 13, 1955) is a former Italian police officer and pentathlete, most notable for his nine-day disappearance in the Sahara Desert, whilst competing in the 1994 Marathon des Sables (Marathon of the Sands) in Morocco.
Following a career competing in Modern Pentathlons, Prosperi developed an interest in completing the Moroccan ultramarathon, after being informed of its existence by a close friend. Together with eighty other participants, he began the five-stage competitive race in Foum Zguid, Morocco on April 10, 1994. Prosperi’s disappearance occurred four days into the week long race, as he continued to run through an unexpected eight hour sandstorm, determined to maintain his position of seventh place, and causing him to veer over 300 kilometers off course. During his nine-day disorientation, Prosperi’s resorts to survival included drinking his own urine, entrapping small creatures such as lizards and bats for nourishment, and submerging himself in the desert sand during evenings, to shield himself from frigid temperatures. Prosperi reported taking refuge in a vacant Islamic Shrine used by Bedouins travelling across the Sahara, and using distress signals such as placing an Italian flag atop the shrine and burning objects to create smoke. Despite these attempts, both a helicopter and an aeroplane were unable to see Prosperi amongst the desert dunes, leaving him deserted, and resulting in a failed suicide attempt.On the ninth day of his disappearance, Prosperi discovered a group of Tuareg nomads at a small oasis. This discovery led him to a military base, across the Moroccan border, and into Algeria, where he was medically attended to, and identified.
Following his return to Italy, and a two-year physical and mental recovery process, Prosperi has continued pursuing endurance running, and returned six times to the Marathon des Sables, notably placing 13th in 2001.