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.

Weary firefighters sang and danced today after heavy rain doused many bush fires that had burned out of control across Australia’s most populous state for two weeks.

Cool weather today allowed 15,000 firefighters to contain many of the wildfires that have been burning out of control across Australia’s most populous state.