A BRITISH teenager who survived 12 nights in the Australian bush yesterday described himself as a “total idiot” and denied faking his ordeal.

A British teenager who was found dehydrated and freezing after 12 wintry days lost in Australia’s wilderness said he wrote farewell notes to his family and expected to die of starvation.

A “BACK from the dead” backpacker who was lost in the Australian bush for 12 days was last night recovering in hospital after he was found by chance by two hikers.

A British backpacker has been found alive in the Australian bush after his desperate father gave up hope of ever seeing him again.