Pensioner Survives 2-Day Ordeal in Mexican Jungle
 Craig Davidson - Scotsman.com
A Scottish pensioner who survived 38 hours stranded in a Mexican jungle has told how he was desperate for a drink of the local wine after being rescued.
William Ditchburn, 70, known to his friends as Alan, seriously injured his leg while visiting archaeological sites in Mexico.
The intrepid traveller, from Morningside, Edinburgh, was lost for nearly two days in the dense jungles in the Yucatan peninsula, surviving without food or water, before being found on Boxing Day.
After undergoing an operation on his leg at the Central Medical de Las Americas hospital, he was due to be discharged last night.
He insisted he just wanted to get home. "I wanted to take a little Mexican wine - I tried some days before and it gave me much desire to celebrate that I am well," he said.
Asked if he was a hero, he replied: "No, never. I only fought to survive and to leave the jungle. It was a very difficult experience."
Despite his ordeal, Mr Ditchburn, who regularly travels to exotic locations for breaks, insisted he would consider returning to Mexico.
He had been due to return to Scotland, via Mexico City, Madrid and Heathrow, on Sunday, but the Foreign Office was unable to confirm last night when he would be able to fly home. |
Vallarta Weddings
News Around the Republic of Mexico | December 2006 
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