News & Current Events
Starving Man’s Final Selfie And Diary Reveal Tragic Countdown To Death
An American hiker’s final photograph tells a heartbreaking tale of the events leading up to his passing.
Chris McCandless gave his $24,000 funds to charity after graduating from Emory University in 1990 and set off on a two-year trek across the American West.
As he traveled across Arizona, California, and South Dakota, the 24-year-old made the conscious decision to distance himself from his family and society. He lived in poverty, frequently hitched rides, and slept outside.
‘Bus 142’ was an abandoned bus that McCandless found and utilized as a refuge when he hitched a ride to Alaska in April 1992.
McCandless hunted small wildlife, lived off the land, and frequently went scavenging for plants for 113 days. He carried nothing but a weapon for defense.
On 3 July, he wrote in his journal: “Day 94. HAPPINESS ONLY REAL WHEN SHARED.”
When he attempted to escape the woods in late July, he discovered that the river was too swollen to bridge, marking the end of his journey.
After realising that his days were numbered, McCandless placed a message onto the bus which read: “Attention Possible Visitors. S.O.S. I need your help.”
“I am injured, near death, and too weak to hike out. I am all alone, this is no joke. In the name of God, please remain to save me. I am out collecting berries close by and shall return this evening.”
“Thank you, Chris McCandless. August?”
Then, on 12 August 1992, he wrote “Beautiful Blueberries,” and just four days later, on 16 August, he penned his farewell and took a historic picture.
It read: “I HAVE HAD A HAPPY LIFE AND THANK THE LORD. GOODBYE AND MAY GOD BLESS ALL!” He signed it: “Chris McCandless / August ? 1992.”
His body, which weighed only 67 pounds, was found by moose hunters on September 6.
It is thought that famine, which may have been exacerbated by consuming wild vegetation, was the cause of death.
In a controversial statement, Park Ranger Peter Christian said that McCandless would have lived if he had received the right training.
“When you consider McCandless from my perspective, you quickly see that what he did wasn’t even particularly daring, just stupid, tragic, and inconsiderate,” he stated.
“First off, he spent very little time learning how to actually live in the wild. He arrived at the Stampede Trail without even a map of the area. If he had a good map he could have walked out of his predicament.”
However, ranger Ken Ilgunas, insisted “He starved to death, accidentally poisoned himself, or a combination of the two.”
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