British and Dutch students survived on Turkish mountain for four days by eating insects and drinking rainwater

The group were rescued on Monday

David Mackie, who was stranded on a mountain for five days, is taken to hospital (Suleyman Elcin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

A student from Nottinghamshire and his two Dutch friends survived being stranded on a mountain in Turkey for four days, by eating insects and drinking rainwater.

David Mackie, 21, and fellow students, Frisko De Vries, 21, and Merije De Groot, 21, set off for what was meant to be a day-long hiking trip along the Lycian Way, in the Kemer districti, on 11 January.

But before long, Mackie's phone no longer had signal, and the group became lost when they were faced with bad weather and flooding in Antalya.

Mr Mackie's family became concerned when he did not contact them, and missed his flight back to Istanbul.

On Friday, Mackie was able to make an emergency call and the search for the group began. Hundreds of people joined the effort.

Marije De Groot, is taken to hospital on a stretcher (Suleyman Elcin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Rescuers found the students, who are studying in Istanbul, on Monday, and they were airlifted to hospital. Mackie escaped the ordeal with only minor cuts and scratches, BBC News reported.

De Vries told Turkey’s Andalou Agency : "Discovery channel saved my life. I felt like I was in a documentary channel the whole week. Thanks to all."

Mackie's sister Hannah Mackie, 22, said his family were "still in disbelief" over the incident, and told BBC News "it’s been the worst week of my life."

"We're so relieved, we're still in disbelief," she said, adding: "You don't think it's going to happen to you."

David James Alan Mackie, Friso Anne Antoney De Vries and Marije De Groot, were rescued by a helicopter 5 days after getting lost on the Lycian Way in Kemer district (Getty/Andalou Agency) (Suleyman Elcin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

The British student is currently with his parents, Christopher and Alison Mackie.

His father thanked the Turkish authorities "for their absolute dedication in finding" his son.

The family is expected to return to their home in Radcliffe-on-Trent later this week.