Posted 15 Jul 2009

A 19-year-old Brit on a gap year in Australia has been found alive after going missing for 12 days, it has been reported.

Jamie Neale, who planned to start his gap year in Australia before heading to south-east Asia, was staying at a hostel Katoomba, New South Wales, when he told staff he was heading off for a short walk in the Blue Mountains.

However, the teenager became lost for almost two weeks and described how he had to eat plants and weeds to stay alive.

His father Richard Cass, who flew out to the country to help with the 400 person-strong search, said: "He must be the only teenager in the world who goes out for a walk and leaves his mobile phone behind."

New South Wales is the most populated part of Australia and is located in the south-east of the country. It is also home to Sydney and the Snowy Mountains.

Category: Australasia