Australian tourist lost in Argentina survives on berries, insects

San Carlos De Bariloche - An Australian tourist was lost for three days in a mountainous area near the town of El Bolson in the Argentinian Patagonia; she was attacked by a stranger and left for dead, but survived by eating insects and berries.

A 23-year-old woman identified as Emma Kelly, from Perth, Australia, is recovering in hospital after she was found in the wilderness in the Argentinian Patagonia, near the locality of El Bolson, about 150 km south of the city of San Carlos de Bariloche. On Monday December 26, against the advice of her friends, Kelly went trekking by herself in a mountainous area known as "Cajon del Azul" in the province of Rio Negro. Apparently she got lost in the woods and was attacked by an unknown man who thought she was dead and abandoned her at the place of the assault. An unidentified hiker found her in the forest on Thursday. She was half-naked, barefoot and showing abrasions and bruises in her arms and legs. She was confused and dehydrated, very distraught and could hardly speak. The hiker provided her with clothing and assisted her as she was unable to walk. She explained that during the time she was in the forest she ate flowers, berries and insects. Although the woman did not speak of abuse, the gynecologist who attended her at the hospital yesterday determined that she had been the victim of sexual assault. This was confirmed today by a medical examiner, according to Clarín.com (in Spanish). In recent hours, based on the description given by Kelly, Rio Negro police arrested a 30-year-old suspect, a resident of El Bolson, who will be taken to San Carlos de Bariloche for questioning and to investigate about the possibility of previous criminal record.