Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Missing British Bushwalker Found Alive













Img: Richard Cass. Credit: Damian Baker.

Full Auspacific Media Group feature to follow for weekend reading.

By Rich Bowden/Damian Baker
Missing British bushwalker Jamie Neale, 19, has been found in bushland near Katoomba, west of Sydney, 12 days after leaving on a day walk through bush in the Blue Mountains. Mr Neale was located Wednesday morning local time after he wandered into a camp of hikers 15 km south west of Katoomba. His father Richard Cass, who was waiting for a flight home at Sydney Airport after leaving the search for his son, received the dramatic phone call from Katoomba police at 11.45am local time informing him of his son's discovery.

Describing his response to the news, Mr Cass told reporters outside the Blue Mountains hospital, where he had been reunited with his son, that he acted like a lunatic, yelling "my boy's been found, my boy's been found."

Jamie Neale of Muswell Hill, London had been missing in what rescue officials described as a "hostile environment" near Katoomba, west of Sydney. He had left on July 3 but had become disorientated and had been missing for 12 days.

Mr Cass said his son had survived by eating seeds and sleeping under a log but had no means of lighting a fire. He added that he had seen rescue helicopters overhead on many occasions but had no means of notifying them of his presence.

A search and rescue police officer confirmed to Auspacific Media Group (APMG) that Mr Neale had worn adequate clothing and "...he may even have included an extra jacket in his backpack."

Superintendent Tony McWhirter of Katoomba police, was specifically thanked by Mr Cass for his persistence in continuing the search. McWhirter told reporters that Mr Neale's discovery was a great relief to exhausted search and rescue officials and hoped that bushwalkers would register with police and be prepared before starting on a bushwalk.

Assistant Commissioner Denis Clifford said a total of 400 people had been involved in the search over the 12 days. He said the survival was a "fantastic effort" and the news was "the best this year."

When questioned on Mr Neale's chances of survival over 12 days in what has been described by police officers as a "hostile environment," local guide Nick Plim told APMG that he regarded Mr Neale as "lucky."

"...he could have picked the right time of the year" said Mr Plim and was "lucky" to experience dry nights warm days yet still have had enough access to water. "I was there in February and it was dry as a bone."

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