Australian Man Survives 7 Days Stranded on Taiwan Mountain After Rescuers Locate Him by Saxophone Sound
A 50-year-old Australian man was rescued after seven days lost in Taiwan's mountains when rescuers followed the sound of his saxophone to locate him in a cave near Taitung.
In an extraordinary rescue story on May 18, a 50-year-old Australian man was found after being lost for more than a week in the mountains near Taitung, eastern Taiwan. Rescuers were guided to his location by the sound of a saxophone he was playing while trapped in the forest. Matthew, as he requested to be called, was rescued on May 15 after days stranded without food, proper hiking boots, or communication equipment. He survived by drinking rainwater and sheltering in a cave to escape the cold weather. The Taitung Fire Department received a missing person report on May 11 and deployed multiple search teams using drones. Officials located Matthew the following day but heavy rainfall and dangerous terrain prevented immediate access, so they used drones to deliver food while waiting for rescue teams to reach him on foot. Matthew told local media he had ventured into the forest after arguing with his wife, saying "This is a miracle. Thank you Taiwan." He has since reunited with his wife and confirmed he will never disappear into the mountains again.
