‘The first sip is pretty hard’

Peter O'Shaughnessy, 78, who was rescued after becoming lost in the Goldfields has urged fellow prospectors to carry a personal locator beacon which could save their life. Picture: File image Source: News Limited

AN experienced bushman who became lost in Western Australia's Goldfields region has urged fellow prospectors to carry a potentially life-saving personal locator beacon.

Peter O'Shaughnessy spent a night in the wilderness northeast of Kalgoorlie-Boulder in May after he became separated from his friend.

The 78-year-old went into survival mode, constructing a makeshift shelter from shrubbery and drinking his own urine.

"I just got some branches, made a little teepee and then got the flat bark from ribbon gums and made a nice waterproof layer, then covered it up with gum leaves," he told ABC radio presenter Gillian O'Shaughnessy, who is his daughter.

"I survived on a diet of sandalwood nuts, which are quite delicious, saltbush leaves which are very high in protein and taste alright - a bit salty - washed down with a steady stream of my own urine.

"The first sip is pretty hard to take, but you really just moisten your lips. Because it's pretty salty."

Despite his best efforts, Mr O'Shaughnessy still suffered from dehydration and exposure, but was in good spirits when he was found.

The helicopter pilot told him that if he hadn't wildly waved his metal detector in the air, he would not have been spotted.

Today, Mr O'Shaughnessy joined a state government campaign aimed at improving the safety of prospectors and saving the considerable expense of searching.

Aircraft searches cost up to $5000 per hour.

With winter a prime time for prospectors to head to the outback, WA's mines and petroleum minister Bill Marmion urged the more than 3000 people issued with Miner's Rights licences this season to carry personal locator beacons, saying they were "a small price to pay for something that could save your life".

The push for personal beacons comes after an inquest into the death of prospector Michael Graham near Menzies following a month-long search that covered 1500 square kilometres last year.

He was among nine prospectors reported missing to WA Police in 2013.

Only one was carrying a personal locator beacon and he was found within four hours.

On average, searches last 11.3 hours but many last one or two days.

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