PARIS — A 77-year-old French cyclist who survived three days in a ravine sustained only by red wine, an Australian hotel’s unexpected crocodile guest, and a Peruvian politician’s controversial pedicure dominated this week’s collection of unusual international news stories.
A French pensioner survived a harrowing 40-meter plunge into a ravine for three days, kept alive solely by bottles of red wine from his shopping trip, local authorities reported Thursday.
The 77-year-old cyclist missed a sharp turn while returning from a supermarket in the mountainous Cévennes region, careening down a rocky slope near Saint-Julien-des-Points. Unable to climb out of the ravine, he attempted to alert passing motorists by shouting, but remained unheard for days.
“He was sustained by the bottles of wine he was taking home to his caravan,” rescue officials stated. Road workers eventually heard his cries and spotted his mangled bicycle frame.
Dr. Laurent Savath, who treated the man after helicopter evacuation, called the survival “a miracle, given the cold and rain, with almost nothing to eat or drink” besides the wine. The victim had fallen into a stream multiple times while attempting to escape, risking hypothermia.
“He is really tough,” Dr. Savath added.
Crocodile crashes Australian hotel pool party
And down under, guests at a luxury Queensland resort in Port Douglas barely reacted when a young crocodile made an uninvited appearance in the hotel swimming pool, social media footage revealed.
The reptile took up residence at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort’s pool, where holidaymakers continued their poolside activities mere feet from the predator.
“I don’t want to alarm anyone but there is a crocodile in the Sheraton pool,” TikTok user Lisa Keller posted. “Not a single person cares.”
Hotel manager Joseph Amerio assured AFP that “at no time were guests and the baby animal in the pool at the same time.” Wildlife rangers relocated the crocodile and installed warning signs in the area.
Officials could not immediately determine whether the uninvited guest was a saltwater crocodile or its less dangerous freshwater relative.
Peruvian MP faces ethics probe over parliamentary pedicure
Meanwhile in Lima, Peru, a congresswoman faces potential disciplinary action after being photographed receiving a pedicure from a staff member in her parliamentary office, sparking outrage amid ongoing anti-government protests.
The image of MP Lucinda Vásquez (67) reclining while an adviser trimmed her toenails has inflamed public sentiment during weeks of youth-led demonstrations against the political establishment.
Congressional Speaker Fernando Rospigliosi condemned the incident as “reprehensible” and humiliating for the adviser, stating such tasks fell outside official job responsibilities.
Ethics Committee Chairman Elvis Vergara announced plans for a formal inquiry, with colleagues demanding Vásquez’s suspension for “abuse of power.”
Vásquez attributed the leaked photograph to disgruntled former staff members, claiming the image was “taken out of context.”
