ANTALYA, Turkey
"I am really hungry. I want to eat pizza, hamburger and kebap" – these were the first words by a relieved David Mackie, one of three foreign students who were found alive after five days missing in the wilds of Antalya, southwestern Turkey.
British citizen David Mackie, 21 and two companions – Dutch duo Frisko De Vries, 21, and Merije De Groot, 21 – went missing on Jan. 14 when they were last seen on Turkey’s 540-kilometer “Lycian Way” hiking route.
The students, rescued after going missing on the trail – a major tourist draw – were spotted by a police helicopter on Monday around 9:50 a.m. local time.
Mackie revealed that the trio were reduced to eating anything they could find during their ordeal.
"I have been hungry for seven days. We ate insects and drank spring water to survive. I am so happy. I thank all the team. We did not expect that all these people would care for us," he said.
Frisko De Vries said he was thankful to the rescue team: "Discovery channel saved my life. I felt like I was in a documentary channel the whole week. Thanks to all."
The Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency said in a statement on Monday that the trio was found when the authorities traced the signal of a mobile phone used by one of the students to call for help.
Deputy Governor of Antalya, Serdar Cevheroglu, told reporters that the students were transferred by helicopter to be reunited with their families.
The families of the missing students said they are indebted to Turkish officials for their work on the rescue efforts.
Chris and Alison Mackie, parents of David, said they felt “absolutely elated.”
"After searching a long time to see the children again, it is absolutely fantastic," they said.
Stating that they last spoke to David on Saturday before he left Istanbul, the Mackies said: "David said he would have difficulty in contacting us because of the walk. We did not expect this."
"We have to thank the Turkish people for all these efforts. Everyone in this search is absolutely unbelievable; they never gave up," the family added.
Annehe de Vries de Bout, mother of Frisko De Vries, also thanked the Turkish authorities, saying that she waited to see her son with great excitement.
"All we could think of is the arrival of the helicopter. Thank you so much," she said.
After being rescued, the trio was sent to Antalya hospital after a check-up at a local medical facility.
The three men had come to Turkey as exchange students and are enrolled in Istanbul’s Bogazici and Kadir Has universities.
