Working as a gamekeeper, Josh Wilkinson was used to working in freezing conditions. But his ordeal began after his snowmobile broke down in the Cairngorms, Invernessshire, forcing him to spend a day enduring temperatures of -6°C.
Wilkinson survived 22 hours in freezing temperatures and blizzard conditions “thanks to his energy-giving properties of his favourite Rocky biscuits”, said 2 Sisters.
The gamekeeper faced his ordeal, on ground above 3,000, with just a flask of tea and two Rocky biscuits until he was found by rescuers the following day.
‘They saved my life’
The 22 year old explained: “I’d packed the biscuits for my lunch, but they saved my life.
“The chocolate gave me an instant sugar and energy buzz and kept me going. It wasn’t a brilliant situation but it was the best I could do.”
Wilkinson also thanked the Scottish Mountain Rescue service for coming to his aid. “It’s at only times like this you fully understand the privilege of having such a competent and friendly rescue team,” he told local newspaper The Press and Journal.
Rocky biscuits are produced by 2 Sisters subsidiary Fox’s Biscuits. Commenting on the story of mountain survival Fox’s Biscuits’ md Colin Smith said: “We call the Rocky ‘the biscuit bar of champions’ and in this case it couldn’t be more fitting.
‘Helped sustain Josh through his ordeal’
“We’re delighted that Rocky biscuits helped sustain Josh through his ordeal.”
Marketed as ‘the biscuit bar of champions’, the chocolate product was described as “a biscuit bar with attitude,” and being “ideal for keeping the mighty mid-morning cravings at bay”.
“The team at Fox's Biscuits have sent Josh a year’s supply of his favourite chocolate snack to cheer him up after his gruelling ordeal,” said 2 Sisters.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Mountain Rescue service is comprised of 27 volunteer mountain rescue teams – including Scottish Cave Rescue – staffed by more than 1000 volunteers.
Their work is supplemented by an additional three police teams and one Royal Air Force team.
Deployed under the authority of the police, the service dispatches personnel on mountain rescue and other missions 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, in all weather conditions.
A separate service – Mountain Rescue England & Wales – operates south of the Scottish border.
Northern Ireland is served by Mourne Mountain Rescue Team.
In praise of sugar
“The chocolate gave me an instant sugar and energy buzz and kept me going. It wasn’t a brilliant situation but it was the best I could do.”
- Josh Wilkinson, stranded gamekeeper