Elderly Man Fell Down a 130-Foot Ravine and Became Stuck. For Days, He Had Nothing to Eat or Drink — Except Red Wine

An elderly man in France survived an incredible ordeal after a routine bike trip to the store turned into a life-threatening accident — with only a bottle of red wine to sustain him.

Earlier this month, the 77-year-old man rode his bike to a supermarket in the Cévennes, a mountainous region of south-central France. On his way home, he lost control on a bend and plunged roughly 130 feet down a rocky slope into a ravine near the town of Saint-Julien-des-Points, landing along the banks of the Gardon River, according to CBS News and The Independent.

Trapped and unable to climb back up, he shouted for help whenever vehicles passed overhead, but for days no one heard him. His only supplies were what he had just purchased — a bottle of red wine — which became his only source of hydration and energy.

After three days, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, technicians from the Interdepartmental Roads Directorate working nearby heard his faint calls for help. Spotting his damaged bicycle in the ravine, they alerted emergency responders.

Rescuers from the Hérault Fire and Rescue Service soon arrived and airlifted the man by helicopter to a nearby hospital, according to French outlet Entrevue. Despite spending several days exposed to the cold and damp, he suffered only minor injuries and mild hypothermia.

Dr. Laurent Savath, the chief medical officer with the fire department, said the man had fallen into the stream several times while attempting to climb out, which put him at risk of hypothermia. “He’s a miracle,” Savath said. “In the cold and wet, with almost no food or water, he’s incredibly resilient.”