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| Missing backpacker is found alive | Missing backpacker is found alive |
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| 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, mother | He 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 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 had "lost faith". | 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 date of birth - he's going to come back 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." |
| New South Wales Police said Mr Neale, who is due to start a politics degree at Exeter University later this year, checked into the Katoomba Youth Hostel on 2 July. | New South Wales Police said Mr Neale, who is due to start a politics degree at Exeter University later this year, checked into the Katoomba Youth Hostel on 2 July. |
| He was seen the following morning but failed to return for a pre-booked cave tour, resulting in a search for him. | He was seen the following morning but failed to return for a pre-booked cave tour, resulting in a search for him. |
| Personal belongings, including a phone and passport, were found still in his room. | Personal belongings, including a phone and passport, were found still in his room. |
| 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 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 slept under trees and logs and ate nettles to survive. | He slept under trees and logs and ate nettles to survive. |
| The teenager was eventually found near Katoomba, 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 were camping in the bush and said, 'I am lost'. | John Hughes, of New South Wales State Emergency Service, said: "He came out to two people who were 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]. | "In winter we have had people lost for three days but never more than a week [and surviving]. |
| "This is extraordinary." | "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 Police | He 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". | Mrs Neale said she always "stayed positive". |
| "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'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. 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 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 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 for a day trip, but took 12 days to come back - very, very lucky," he 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 search. | Jamie's aunt, Caroline Neale, said her family had felt "helpless" during the search. |
| "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. He is really tough," she said. |
| Poor weather | Poor 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". |
| The Blue Mountains can be a very disorientating environment | |
| Rescuers were hampered 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 UK Foreign Office is providing consular assistance. | The UK Foreign Office is providing consular assistance. |