Late last month while visiting Ventura County, California, 65-year-old Brent Lendriet of Phoenix, Arizona, headed into the backcountry to try and find a lost gold cache worth $300 million. But after driving into a restricted area, his truck got stuck. Alone, wet, and unable to move his vehicle, Lendriet spent the next four days stranded in the freezing, rainy, wilderness.
He managed to send a text to his girlfriend, who alerted authorities, however, due to the remote location and difficult conditions, it took local rescuers days to find him. When Lockwood Valley Sheriff’s Deputies finally located him, he was malnourished and wearing wet clothes. Lendriet says he’d been surviving on frozen White Castle sliders and cans of soup he defrosted between his legs.
Reflecting on the experience, Lendriet says he regrets his decision to pursue the gold, which he believes is part of his family lineage. He also acknowledges that he wasn’t prepared for the harsh conditions he encountered. Lendriet faced severe challenges in the wilderness, which he now understands was a life-threatening situation, and he’s grateful to have made it out.
Source: PEOPLE