Left for Dead in the Outback

by Ricky Megee

After being abducted on the Buntine Highway, drugged, then left for dead, Ricky Megee had walked for ten days in bare feet through unforgiving terrain in blistering heat. Stumbling upon a dam, he set up camp there and survived for almost 3 months on leeches, grasshoppers, frogs and plants. This title gives an account of his abduction and survival.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Australia, Biography

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 11, 2008

Reviews

[Kelv · Rating 2 out of 5]

The language, style, and reflection to god are crude. The 'praying' to god and then calling it luck when it is delivered is just misguided...

I am sure the events are real but the story presentation with lacking in consistency just makes this book weak.

He suffered throughout 71 days without barely a mention of the ankles, but with the recreation, the ankles are now the center of the story.

I felt that the language used was somewhat similar to the 'rough' sort of character that Ricky was supposed to be. However, the swear word, often poorly timed, added little to emphasise to problem and lowered the value of the story.

Well portrayed inability of the police.

[Adsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Not hard to read or anything like that. It's pretty honest in the telling.

[Beatté · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe in what happened, as what initially happened to Ricky happened in the "wet" season so plenty of bush tucker if you know what to look for. I felt it was a heart wrenching tale of survival and it amazes me in this day and age that the Darwin police with all the forensic knowledge and the health reports from Royal Darwin Hospital refused to believe him, shame on them, as usually the police are excellent, this is not one of their finer moments. Instead of trying to solve what actually occurred they in their mygonystic way focuses on his past history which was over 8 years old. Do they not believe a person can not learn from their past mistakes. No one willing puts themselves in this situation. Good on you Ricky Megee for writing this book and telling us your truth, which was vastly different to what I read in the newspapers at the time where there was much disbelief in your story of survival

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a remarkable feat and entertaining to read. However, my rating dropped for a couple of reasons.
It was rude. Ricky cannot tell a story and explain himself without the use of profanity on every 2nd page. I found myself wishing he could represent Australians a little better with his penmanship.
His tone sounds like a man with a chip on his shoulder, argumentative, volatile, someone I would cross the road to avoid. Despite his references to God, which were pleasing, when he was desperate, yet there's no mention of his faith in God at the end. Surely, you would comment after your rescue. And what about that final chapter! I mean, how idiotic can you get. Spoiler: why would you go trekking in the bush again for kms with a busted ankle? Is he stupid?
Sure it might be the truth, it was just unpleasant overall.

[Vanessa Hoyles · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book really took me some determination to finish, this man so full of arrogance I can't decide if the events happened to that full extent or if we are exaggerating a little. Makes you wonder if he would have survived if it hadn't been in the wet season 🤔
Plus how many pages can 1 person possibly write about mosquitos? Feel like that was a big section of the book. Was quite hard for me to finish no matter how interesting the story as a whole.
And barely any mention of his ankles which were the focus point for about 25% of the book.

[Fee · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amazing story of survival, really compelling and blunt.

However, the narrative made me wonder how much were Megee's words and how much were Greg McLeans' because while it was obviously unpolished and sometimes cliche-ridden, there were times when I couldn't imagine an Aussie bloke using certain words or terms.

I read this book quickly because it was so interesting. I just wish authors would try not to find "closure" for themselves as I find that tends to ruin the end of the book.

[Kilburn Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. Especially all the things he ate.

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book. Great to hear about how to survive in the Outback and the dangers involved. Very inspiring story of human ingenuity and resilience.

[Kita Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an easy to read yarn about a guy who was robbed by strangers and - like the title says - left for dead in the outback. He tries to find his way out but ends up needing to stay near the water source that he finds. He gradually eats all the “food” (frogs, leaches etc) and is about to die of starvation when he gets rescued by some station hands.
As he’s an unattached man with a criminal record, the police and media don’t really believe his story.
They think it’s made up for attention— but why would anyone lose themselves and nearly die of starvation?
After he has recovered he goes back to see his humpy again. It’s a shame there wasn’t more fanfare about it and a proper “return home” or tv documentary or something.
I hope the book doesn’t put people off stopping a car to help strangers in trouble.
I enjoyed reading about the food he ate. Also wow to his description of his body as it got skinnier. Ugh!

[Lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a real slog to get through.

Im not sure what I was expecting but the first 25% of the book consists of the back story of what appears to be a lifelong dropout.

This is followed by 25% walking around the wilderness with no water

Then 30% eating random stuff that the author didnt know the name of so made up his own names.

10% being found

10% revisiting the place that he was lost.

There is almost no personality in any of the writing. It reads almost like a list of food that was eaten. There are so many Australian slang terms used that you better have access to the internet to look stuff up.

I couldn't wait for this to end.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining and fast paced. Ricky is not portrayed as the type of character/person I would usually like but he is refreshingly honest about his own short-comings and his survival is amazing.
This one is to be avoided if you hate swearing, however it does fit with the character and situation so is not that offensive. I suspect I would swear if someone stole my stuff and left me for dead in a hole with no shoes or water.

[Siebert Tenseven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stylistically, some might consider this book rude or daft, but I enjoyed the Aussie rhetoric tremendously. It was great to read about someone who was not going to give up, no matter what. Definitely a great survival saga and in a category of its own. A quick read.

[Willow · Rating 2 out of 5]

Badly written story by arrogant racist douchebag but interesting survival tale. Just about readable

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a book that was very honest and unflinching in the harshness of life out there, and it was entertaining to read. Great sense of humour, and reminded me of home.

[Kristin Karrow · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rough read. Interesting story.

[Wesley Birdsall Fernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

#barbrec idk

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is pretty bad for the race relations, if read in a wrong way. Otherwise, it is a very inspiring survival story, combined with some social judgement in the last five chapters. Who would have believed an ex small time criminal to tell the truth, despite the fact the man nearly died from starvation? Reality TV and stupifying media influence succedeed successfuly in neutering society's response, plus so called 'class labels' appear to work down under as well. Should the main hero came from a privileged background, everyone would be flying around him in praise, instead of portraying his gruesome ordeal as a freak act, suitable to sell extra copies of a newspaper.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing true story!

Ricky Megee is obviously a little rough around the edges, but I think that this just adds more flavour to the book.

I was very shocked to see this only has an average of 3 stars! After all Ricky Megee has been through I think he deserves much more than that!

I absolutely love the genuine heart felt prayers that were answered, that saved Ricky's life, they were so raw and unpolished coming from someone that had never stepped foot inside a church but found himself in desperate circumstances.

[Lauren Jackman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me a long time to get through this as always left too late at night to read

Amazing to see what the body can endure for a long period of time.



I would be keen to know what Ricky is now doing 13 years later. Also wonder if the offenders ever caught or karma caught up with them?!

[Louise Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing story of survival. Not many would have lasted as long in such a harsh environment.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing true story. the will to survive is strong!

[Mazz Scannell]

Total grit determination and water will keep you going for a long time but in the end you also need luck