A 77-year-old man fell into a deep trap and was forced to drink only wine for three days (2 photos)
A 77-year-old cyclist from the Cévennes region miraculously survived a fall into a ravine nearly 40 meters deep. He spent three days there, surviving on only a few bottles of red wine and the remains of groceries bought at the supermarket.
The incident occurred near the village of Saint-Julien-des-Pointes. The man was returning home with groceries when he lost control on a winding mountain road and plunged down the slope. His bicycle and bag of groceries were carried away, but, miraculously, several bottles of wine survived. It was these very things that helped the pensioner survive the cold and damp autumn days.
According to the French news agency Entrevue, the victim had been trying to attract the attention of passersby the entire time, shouting whenever he heard cars passing, but no one noticed him due to the depth of the ravine. Temperatures dropped to near freezing overnight, and rain made matters worse.
On the third day after the incident, road workers accidentally spotted a bicycle frame lying near the cliff and called emergency services. Rescuers from the Hérault department's fire and rescue service arrived at the scene and descended the slope, where they found the man alive but extremely weakened.
"It's a true miracle. He spent three cold nights in the rain, with almost no food or water, and yet he survived. Such cases are rare, even in the mountains," said rescuer Laurent Savate.
Medics took the pensioner to the hospital, where they diagnosed mild hypothermia and several minor bruises.
"He's very strong, a real fighter," the doctor added, noting that the man fell into the stream several times while trying to escape.
According to rescuers, such cases serve as a reminder of the importance of keeping loved ones informed of the route and return time from mountain trips. Locals have already nicknamed the surviving cyclist "the man saved by wine."












