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London backpacker found alive after 12 days lost in the bush
Frank Thorne in Sydney and Ellen Widdup15 Jul 2009
A LONDON backpacker was found in the Australian bush today after surviving for 12 days by eating weeds, seeds and berries.
Jamie Neale, 19, from Muswell Hill, who had been given up for dead, is being treated for exposure and dehydration.
The gap-year student said his father Richard Cass “had a go at him” during a tearful reunion in hospital.
An overjoyed but exasperated Mr Cass, a supply teacher, said: “I can't say I'd kill him because it would just spoil the point of him being back. But I'm going to kick his arse.”
This morning Jamie stumbled into a camp set up by two walkers in dense bush in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. He had not been seen since 3 July when he left his hostel in the town of Katoomba, New South Wales, for a 10-mile hike. He was wearing light clothing despite the biting winter winds and had just a day backpack. His father Richard Cass, who had flown to Australia to help with the search, was boarding a plane home when the call came saying he had been found.
Mr Cass said: “I gave a great shout, My boy's been found'. He did think he was going to die. He was that scared. My heart goes out to the people of Australia for making him come back from the dead. When I've seen the mistake after mistake he's made.”
Mr Cass had already held a “closure ceremony” for his son, lighting a candle and burying a red rose “for England” in his memory. Two hours later Jamie was found.
“I thought he's probably fallen off a cliff,” said Mr Cass, “I made a little shrine to him — I've defaced the national park with his name and his date of birth. He's going to come back in about five years and see his gravestone'. His plans were to go to south-east Asia next but he can forget that now. He has put his mother through enough.”
The search had been hampered by thick fog and freezing temperatures. Four hundred people, including volunteers, were involved in the search which was described as “like searching for a needle in a haystack”. The Blue Mountains cover an area of about one million square miles. Jamie said he had given up hope that he would be rescued as search helicopters failed to spot him waving wildly at them. Mr Cass said: “He was kind of losing faith in the idea there was a God every time that helicopter flew over and he waved and shouted and nothing happened.”
Jamie's mother, Jean Neale, 49, speaking at the family home, said: “I never gave up hoping. I always knew he would be coming home. I spoke to him in hospital and he said he didn't think he'd ever see me again and he just wanted to hear my voice. He said that the only thing keeping him going out there was seeing me. He said he couldn't bear not to see me again.”
View Jamie Neale in a larger map
Mrs Neale added: “Jamie is a fighter, he does not feel the cold, he is very determined and when he puts his mind to something he will do it. I believe this and seeing his family again is what kept him alive. He was in very good spirits when we spoke. He even joked that he was going to carry on with his journey. But that won't be happening because we want him home.”
On Monday police said the chances of finding Jamie alive were slim. One rescuer said: “It is a great survival story. This one will be for the record books.”
Jamie, described as “gaunt and scrawny” had suffered only scratches during his ordeal. He had been able to find clean water, which survival experts said was the most important thing.
New South Wales police said: “About 11.30am today, two walkers alerted emergency services that they had come across a man who identified himself as Jamie Neale near the Narrow Neck fire trail, near Katoomba. Police rescue officers made their way there.” A spokeswoman at Katoomba hospital said he was in a stable condition.
Reader views (19)
So an unprepared "plonker" causes great inconvenience and expense to other people. Is this story now to replace Michael Jackson's death as media bore of the week??
- David Williams, bath, 16/07/2009 06:21
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his dad's a bit of a card.
- Squiz, Islington, 15/07/2009 23:33
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What wonderful news. Jamie survived 12 days in the Blue Mountains in middle of winter - that's amazing! Come back again when it's warmer, but be more careful next time.
- Alan, Sydney, Australia, 15/07/2009 22:44
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I think he cooked the whole thing up. For whatever reason I dont know.
I'm glad the lad's well an' all. I dont believe his 'tale' for a moment tho.
- Paul, Bromley, 15/07/2009 22:42
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Lovely news story. The father is a great character. I really liked his news conference. Beautiful place to get lost ...
- Ben Farrell, London, 15/07/2009 21:42
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what a plonker
- Tony, Barnet, 15/07/2009 21:42
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Good news. Numpty for not taking a phone though. I appreciate a signal cannot be guaranteed but...
- Man In The Street, London, UK, 15/07/2009 21:42
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Wow sounds like he has has used up all his luck. "I told him 'you don't get rid of me that easily'." 
Mad dogs and englishman go for a stroll in the bush
- Gary, Brentwood, 15/07/2009 21:42
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Being 50m from the path home is irrelevant if you are lost and can't find the path. He could have been 5m from it and still lost. Are you saying it would have been more acceptable if he'd been 5000m from the path? As for being offered money to tell his story, who could begrudge him that. If the whole thing was a fake and he was actually camping then cheers for distracting read.
- Ben Farrell, London, 15/07/2009 21:42
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When does his book of his adventures come out?
- Albert Hall, hove england, 15/07/2009 21:42
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Let's hope it's not a get lost in bush - sell story story.
- Frederick, London, 15/07/2009 21:42
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The guy was 50m from the path that took him all the way back to town!!
- John, England, 15/07/2009 21:42
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An idiot who cannot plan ahead, fails to fully inform people of his intentions, gets lost easily and causes hundreds of other folks an immense amount of trouble at massive unnecessary expense.
He's studying government & politics? colour me shocked.......
- Danny, London, 15/07/2009 21:42
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The tabloids' 'Exclusive!' scramble, the book, the movie of the book, the chat-show merry-go-round... The boy's got it made. next time he can afford to hire a guide.
- Paul, London, UK, 15/07/2009 21:42
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Surviving out there for 13 days is incredible, especially in the middle of winter. It's a vast and unfriendly bush. Good luck to him and his family!!!
- Annabelle29, Sydney, Australia, 15/07/2009 21:42
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At least you had the sense to stick to a "GREEN" vegan diet!!!!!!
Get better soon Jamie....now you,ll always know how much your family love you.
- Derek, Oliva,Valencia Spain (In England for a while), 15/07/2009 21:42
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SILLY BILLY, BUT JUST WONDERFUL NEWS!!!!! GET WELL SOON SON
- Sorray, croydon, 15/07/2009 21:42
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Nice to see a bit of positive news for a change.
I'm sure he knows exactly how lucky he is.
- Jc, London, 15/07/2009 21:42
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Extremely lucky.
- Reuben Camara, Republic of Morecambe, UK, 15/07/2009 21:42
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