Young China hiker survives by eating toothpaste after lost in cold mountains for 10 days

An 18-year-old man has been successfully rescued after being lost for 10 days in the frigid, mountainous terrain of northwestern China.

During the harrowing period when he faced food shortages, Sun Liang managed to survive on river water, melted snow, and even toothpaste, as reported by Jimu News.

Sun began his solo hiking adventure on February 8, venturing into the Qinling, a prominent east-west mountain range in Shaanxi province known for its average altitude of around 2,500 metres and an impressive diversity of plant and wildlife.

He lost contact with his family just two days later when his electronic devices ran out of battery. Stranded in the wilderness, Sun recounted walking downstream along a creek and falling several times, which resulted in a fracture in his right arm.

To shelter from the harsh winds, he took refuge behind a large rock and constructed a makeshift bed using dry straw and leaves until he was found by rescuers on February 17.