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Bush survivor starts long journey home to London
Frank Throne in Sydney17.07.09
Bush survivor Jamie Neale walked out of hospital today and thanked the rescuers and doctors who saved him.
The 19-year-old Londoner began the journey home to Muswell Hill two days after being found at the end of a 12-day search when his plan for a walk in the Australian bush went wrong.
“I would like to thank everybody, especially the people who looked after me at the Blue Montains Hospital,” he said.
But he said nothing else as he left hospital in front of a crowd of photographers, reporters and TV crews.
He has signed a deal to be interviewed by Australia's 60 Minutes TV programme, who are understood to have paid £25,000 for the exclusive talk.
It was arranged by a media publicist engaged to sort out financial offers from he UK and Australia for the exclusive rights to Jamie's epic tale of survival.
To squash speculation in some Australian media that Jamie had somehow arranged a stunt to obtain money for his remarkable survival tale, his father Richard Cass engaged a publicity agent
to negotiate the sale of his story, making it clear a slice of the proceeds will be donated to the organisations which led the search for him and to the hospital which cared for him.
Commander Tony McWhirter, who co-ordinated the rescue effort, said the cost was in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Mr Cass said they will donate the majority of his rumoured £25,000 fee to New South Wales emergency services.
Jamie talked police through his time in the bush today, which began on 3 July when he went on a walk from the youth hostel where he was staying
without taking his mobile phone.
He told officers: “I was walking about trying to find my way out because I thought I was going to die in the bush.”
Reader views (15)
i agree with Jeremy. Why are you all being so nasty?
- Jenny, san francisco ca ( ex-londoner)
I agree with J. Lawrence - what a load of negative moaners you all are. Unfortunately that's become a bit of a British trait...What happened to just taking it as it is: a story with a happy ending. The only thing I do agree with is that a good cut of what he earns out of the publicity should go to the rescue services to pay them back for being so stupid & getting lost.
- Susie, London UK
I'm sure there are better and more important news than this one...
- Marcus, Staines, UK
Survived on seeds and moist leaves - what an idiot - there are plenty of good restaurants in the Blue Mountains
- Bob H, Streatham
Anyone having undergone any military escape and evasion courses would be extremely wary about believing that this was a genuine lost in the bush episode.
- Len, Perth Australia
Here here Jeremy!
- Aussie, Hackney, London
I think it's sad the majority of comments here are negative. When do we become a nation of moaners and complainers? You would almost think that people wanted him not to survive the ordeal and now that he has, sit in their arm chairs and pick his story apart. If the NSW Police found any inconsistencies in his ordeal, they would very quickly take action but that is not the case, so give the guy a break. He made a mistake, and survived ten days in the bush. If anything else is the truth I will let the NSW Police be the ones to make that statement. Too many conspiracy theorists here.
- Jeremy Lawrence, Ex-Pat... Somewhere Nice
Looks amazingly well for someone who has been so lost for all this time. That is his university fees paid then.
What a conman. He deserves a medal. He is either a fraud or a complete idiot.
Amber in Mitcham
- Amber In Mitcham, Mitcham Surrey
I think it slightly odd that he didn't appear to suffer too much. Near death experiences in extreme conditions, surely he should have been dehydrated, dry, cracked lips, tight skin ?????????????
I dunno, good job.
- Dogjon, London
Has much will the family be donating to the rescue services from the money earned from selling his 'lost' story.
- Amazonmothe, hasting
Why is he making only a majority donation of the fees he's receiving for the interviews? Surely he should give it all to his rescuers seeing as it was his fault he got lost and didn't prepare properly for a trip in the outback.
- Charles, London
There's nothing stupid about staying alive in extreme conditions, with no food or water except what you can find in the dirt. I think he's a hero.
- Neil, London, London UK
Welcome back for the Stupidest man in Britain.
- Jd, London
What a berk
- David, London, UK
Let's hope he doesn't get lost.
- Steve, London
