Thanks to the angle of the van and the injuries Michael had sustained, just opening a door and clambering out of the vehicle seemed an insurmountable challenge, never mind climbing up 145 feet of steep, rugged terrain.

He'd have to rely on being rescued. But that wouldn't be easy. Michael could hear cars whizzing past on the road above, but even if passersby happened to glimpse his vehicle amid the shoulder-high brush, apparently abandoned, they wouldn't be able to see anyone inside.

He had no cellphones-Michael had never seen the point of getting one. No one knew he'd had taken an unplanned drive out of Victoria, so they'd have no reason to look for him here. And he couldn't honk to get the attention of drivers on the highway. In the 19 years that he'd owned his van, the horn had never worked.

On the plus side, he was dry, at least for the most part. It was cold in the van, but he had an extra fleece-ironically, emblazoned with 'Live the adventure, live the dream.'

To sustain himself, he had scattered roasted veggies, the bread which was now inedible, but he had a bag of mini chocolate bars. To drink he had one water bottle.

He apportioned out his stash and switched on his hazard lights, hoping someone would spot him from the highway above. It was a false hope. He didn't realize that his off road descent had ripped the wires off the van's undercarriage.