Saudi family stranded in desert saved; survives on radiator water

Published: 07 April 2025

Agencies
Riyadh

In one of the most harrowing desert rescue operations in recent memory, the Saudi volunteer search and rescue team, Injad, successfully located a missing family in the remote Halban Desert, west of Riyadh, after receiving reports of their disappearance.

The family became stranded after their vehicle broke down and got stuck in the sand in the desert south of Al-Dawadmi. With no food, water, or means of communication, they were forced to remain exposed to the elements for over 24 hours.

Faced with extreme conditions, some family members resorted to drinking water from the car’s radiator and eating tree leaves to survive. Their ordeal continued until Injad initiated a search operation using drones and ground teams to scan the vast desert expanse.

After extensive efforts involving more than 40 team members, the family was found northwest of Qiran, 50 kilometers from their last known location. Although some members were dehydrated, they were reported to be in generally good health and were immediately given medical attention.

The incident generated widespread attention on social media, where users praised the efforts of the Injad team.