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Missing backpacker is found alive Missing backpacker is found alive
(31 minutes later)
A 19-year-old British backpacker missing in Australia for 12 days has been found alive.A 19-year-old British backpacker missing in Australia for 12 days has been found alive.
Jamie Neale, from Muswell Hill, north London, went missing in dense bushland in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney.Jamie Neale, from Muswell Hill, north London, went missing in dense bushland in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney.
New South Wales Police said two "bushwalkers" alerted emergency services after finding Mr Neale.New South Wales Police said two "bushwalkers" alerted emergency services after finding Mr Neale.
His mother Jean Neale told the BBC she "had no doubt" her son would be found alive. He has been taken to Katoomba Hospital with dehydration and exposure.His mother Jean Neale told the BBC she "had no doubt" her son would be found alive. He has been taken to Katoomba Hospital with dehydration and exposure.
Mr Neale's father, Richard Cass, who flew to Australia to join the search, was reunited with his son, who he said looked "gaunt and scratched".Mr Neale's father, Richard Cass, who flew to Australia to join the search, was reunited with his son, who he said looked "gaunt and scratched".
He just said that he wanted to hear my voice, that he didn't think he'd see me again Jean Neale, motherHe just said that he wanted to hear my voice, that he didn't think he'd see me again Jean Neale, mother
Mr Cass told Australian newspaper, The Age: "The millions that have been spent on this search, the man hours and woman hours that have gone into it... all because he goes out on a walk without his mobile phone. Mr Cass told Australian newspaper, The Age: "The millions that have been spent on this search, the man hours that have gone into it... all because he goes out on a walk without his mobile phone.
"The only teenager in the world who goes on a 10-mile hike and leaves his mobile phone behind.''"The only teenager in the world who goes on a 10-mile hike and leaves his mobile phone behind.''
Speaking at a press conference he admitted that he "lost faith" in his son being found. Speaking at a press conference he admitted that he had "lost faith".
"I made a little shrine for him," he said."I made a little shrine for him," he said.
"I defaced your national park with his name and his date of birth, he's going to come back in five years' time and see his gravestone." "I defaced your national park with his name and date of birth - he's going to come back and see his gravestone."
name="Click here for map of where Jamie Neale was found"> name="return"> class="bodl" href="#map">Click here for map of where Jamie Neale was found
New South Wales Police said Mr Neale had checked into the Katoomba Youth Hostel on 2 July. New South Wales Police said Mr Neale checked into the Katoomba Youth Hostel on 2 July.
He was last seen the following morning but his personal belongings including a mobile phone, his passport and other personal papers were still in his room. He was last seen the following morning but personal belongings including a phone and passport were still in his room.
When he failed to return for a pre-booked tour of a cave system a search was launched. When he failed to return for a pre-booked cave tour a search was launched.
The Blue Mountains can be a very disorientating environment
Mr Neale had not intended to go missing, the BBC was told.Mr Neale had not intended to go missing, the BBC was told.
It is understood he had gone for a walk but got lost and did not know how far he had wandered into the wilderness. It is understood he had gone for a walk but did not know how far he had wandered into the wilderness.
He is said to have slept under trees and logs and eaten local nettles to survive. He slept under trees and logs and ate nettles to survive.
The teenager was eventually found near what police have described as the Narrow Neck fire trail, near Katoomba, and about nine miles from where he went missing. The teenager was eventually found near Katoomba, nine miles from where he went missing.
John Hughes, of New South Wales State Emergency Service, said: "He came out to two people who camping in the bush and said, 'I am lost'.
"In winter we have had people lost for three days but never more than a week [and surviving].
"This is extraordinary."
He was going out for a day trip, but took 12 days to come back - very, very lucky Spokesman, New South Wales PoliceHe was going out for a day trip, but took 12 days to come back - very, very lucky Spokesman, New South Wales Police
Mrs Neale said she always "stayed positive" he would be found. Mrs Neale said she always "stayed positive".
"He's very stubborn, he's very persistent and he's very resourceful, so I had no doubt that he would get through it," she told the BBC. "He's very stubborn, he's very persistent and very resourceful, so I had no doubt that he would get through," she told the BBC.
"He just said that he wanted to hear my voice, that he didn't think he'd see me again, and I told him, you don't get rid of me that easily." "He just said that he wanted to hear my voice, that he didn't think he'd see me again. I told him, you don't get rid of me that easily."
Mr Neale is described as being in a stable condition in hospital. Mr Neale is described in a stable condition in hospital.
A spokesman for New South Wales police told reporters the search for him had covered "in excess of 100 square kilometres". A spokesman for New South Wales police told reporters the search had covered "in excess of 100 square kilometres".
"He was going out for a day trip, but took 12 days to come back - very, very lucky," the spokesman said. "He was going for a day trip, but took 12 days to come back - very, very lucky," he said.
Jamie's aunt, Caroline Neale, said her family had felt "helpless" during the days he was missing. Jamie's aunt, Caroline Neale, said her family had felt "helpless" during the search.
"It's amazing. As far as I know he has just got a few cuts and grazes. He is really tough," she said. "As far as I know he has just got a few cuts and grazes", she said. "He is really tough,".
Poor weatherPoor weather
BBC correspondent Phil Mercer in Sydney described Mr Neale's ordeal as "a remarkable story of resilience".BBC correspondent Phil Mercer in Sydney described Mr Neale's ordeal as "a remarkable story of resilience".
Rescuers had been hampered during the 12 days of their search by poor winter weather, including thick fog, rain and freezing temperatures, he said. Rescuers were hampered by poor winter weather, including thick fog, rain and freezing temperatures, he said.
And the BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney said police were on the verge of calling off the search just hours before Mr Neale was found.And the BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney said police were on the verge of calling off the search just hours before Mr Neale was found.
The search involved units from the the Blue Mountains Local Area Command, a dog unit, the Rural Fire Service (RFS), State Emergency Service (SES), Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). The UK Foreign Office is providing consular assistance.
The UK Foreign Office has confirmed it is providing "consular assistance" to police. name="map">
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