AL AIN // Four people suffering from thirst and fatigue after hours of being stuck in the desert have been rescued.
The group, all in their 20s, had to be flown out by Abu Dhabi Police on Thursday.
Authorities received a distress call at 9.20am from the four, who had been stuck for more than three hours.
The group had been calling friends but could not tell them exactly where they were. They eventually contacted the Abu Dhabi Police operations room.
Searchers found the stranded Toyota FJ Cruiser in the desert between Nahil and Al Ain International Airport.
Rescue workers said the four were showing signs of extreme thirst and fatigue. They later received medical attention.
Brig Ali Al Mazroui, director of the Air Wing at Abu Dhabi Police, warned people intending to travel inland, especially off-road, to keep the operations room emergency number in case they break down or become lost.
Having the number will allow people to quickly notify authorities of any accidents, he said.
Brig Al Mazroui also said that with the onset of summer, people should be more careful when making trips in the desert and should use global-positioning systems to be aware of their location at all times.
