A young man has miraculously been found alive after five days lost in the desert.
Marwan al-Bahiji was discovered by rescue teams beside his broken-down vehicle on Sunday (17 May).
Footage shows him looking exhausted but visibly relieved, surrounded by endless stretches of sand.
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In scenes of celebration, one rescuer fired a gun into the air while another sounded a vehicle horn.
Marwan al-Bahiji – from Brega, Libya – went missing after leaving an oilfield last Tuesday (12 May).
It is believed he lost his way in the desert before his vehicle broke down deep in the interior, as reported by Need To Know.
His disappearance triggered a large-scale search operation involving volunteers, 4×4 vehicles and helicopters, alongside a widespread social media campaign.
Efforts intensified over the following days despite extreme terrain, mobility challenges and vast desert expanses.
Marwan was reportedly found in the Raml 81, or “Sand 81”, area, south-east of Jikharra.
Despite enduring extreme heat, isolation and the risk of dehydration, he was said to be in good health.
Local media report that Marwan himself had previously warned about the dangers of travelling alone in the desert, saying: “Don’t go out alone.”
Experts believe his survival may have been aided by staying with his vehicle.
They note that remaining with a broken-down vehicle can increase the chances of being found, as it is easier to spot from the air or ground than a person on foot.
The Libyan Desert covers around 502,000 square miles and includes some of the driest and most sparsely populated areas of the Sahara.
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