Lost in the Bush for Six Days
Read about a teen's rescue and discuss survival, fear and search teams.
Written for any B1 learner. Adapt it to make it about your student: their level, their work, their goals.
Introduction
Imagine you are lost in a forest for six days. What would you do? In this lesson, you will read about a teenager in Australia who survived this experience. Think about a time you got lost, even for a short time. What happened?
Key Vocabulary
8 wordsLearn these words before reading the article. They will help you understand the text better.
dense
having many things close together, so it is difficult to see or move through
Example Sentences
equipment
the tools or things you need for a particular activity
Example Sentences
search
an attempt to find someone or something
Example Sentences
creek
a small river or stream
Example Sentences
lowered down
moved someone or something slowly from a higher place to a lower place
Example Sentences
check-up
a medical examination to make sure someone is healthy
Example Sentences
scratches
small cuts or marks on the skin caused by rubbing against something rough
Example Sentences
prepared
ready for something because you have planned or arranged what is needed
Example Sentences
Article
Read the article carefully. Take your time to understand the main ideas.
Listen to the article. The sentence being read is highlighted; click any word to hear it.
A 17-year-old boy named William is safe after spending six days lost in dense bushland in Victoria, Australia. He disappeared on a Friday during a camping trip with a friend near Walhalla, about 180 kilometres east of Melbourne. He had walked away from the camp to get some equipment, but he did not return. His friend looked for him, but he could not find him.
William was wearing only shorts and work boots. He did not have his mobile phone, food or water. The nights were very cold, and police were worried about him. Many people joined the search. Police used dogs, divers and helicopters to look for him.
On Thursday morning, a police helicopter found William lying near a creek. Officers were lowered down to help him. They gave him a doughnut and a bottle of water. Then they took him to hospital for a check-up. His mother, Elizabeth, said he had only a few scratches and seemed healthy. She was extremely happy and said he would not leave the house again. Police officers were also emotional. One officer said these searches do not always end so well.
William stayed in one place and waited for help. This was probably a wise decision. When people get lost, moving around can make it harder for rescue teams to find them. Staying near water and waiting can be a good idea.
This story shows how important search-and-rescue teams are. They work in difficult conditions to find missing people. It also reminds us that nature can be dangerous, even for young and healthy people. A simple walk can become a serious problem if you are not prepared.
Comprehension Questions
Answer these questions to check your understanding of the article.
- 1How long was William lost?
- 2Where was William camping when he disappeared?
- 3What was William wearing when he got lost?
- 4Who found William?
- 5What did rescuers give William before taking him to hospital?
- 6What did William do while he was lost that probably helped him survive?
Further Discussion
Discuss these questions about the topic and your personal experiences.
- 1Have you ever been lost? Where were you and what did you do?
- 2What are three important things to take on a walk in nature?
- 3Why is it a good idea to stay in one place when you are lost?
- 4What kind of people work in search-and-rescue teams in your country?
- 5How do you think William felt when he saw the helicopter?
- 6What would you miss most if you were lost outside for several days?
Wrap-up & Reflection
In this lesson, you read about a teenager who survived six days lost in the bush. You learned useful words such as dense, search and prepared, and you discussed survival and rescue. For a final task, write three short sentences about what you would do if you got lost in a forest.
Make it about your student
Same story, rewritten at your student's level, with discussion questions about their job, goals and weak spots. The vocabulary stays from the news, so they learn words outside their usual topics.
Sources
LinguaFlow wrote this article for language learners from facts reported by the sources below. Read them for the full story.