British backpacker found: who's a lucky boy then?

Backpacker Jamie Neale has been found alive in the NSW Blue Mountains after being missing for 12 days.

Well done him on surviving that long, cold at night in the Blue Mountains this time of year.

And this from his dad (different article):

Mr Cass praised the search parties who'd spent days in rugged terrain looking for his boy.

"My heart goes out to them, and to Australia, for making it possible for him to come back from the dead, literally, as far as I'm concerned," he said.

Can't wait for the movie.

Re: Who's a lucky boy then?

Timmy said:

Can't wait for the movie.

Click to expand...

And the book and official story

Re: Who's a lucky boy then?

jono1887 said:

And the book and official story

Click to expand...

Don't forget the 1 hour special on channel 9

Re: Who's a lucky boy then?

Yeah good news : )

I couldnt get over the mothers reaction though
Yep he rang me - no emotion

Geez dont look so happy mum..

Re: Who's a lucky boy then?

Is the world really this desperate for a hero. Surely for $100k+ the media could dig up some quality stories on something worth while which would inspire and enthrall the masses. We seem to be getting rewarded for our stupidity more and more.

Recipe for success. 1. Go to foreign country. 2. Do something really dumb and get into trouble. 3. Sell story for lots of money!

This guy just spent 300 days on an isolated island fending for himself with little more than a knife (although pre-planned). Makes old mates 12days seem like a tea party.

Backpacker survivor Jamie Neale signs media deal

July 16, 2009 09:40pm

BRITISH backpacker Jamie Neale and his father Richard Cass have signed an exclusive publicity deal.

The 19-year-old whose amazing tale of survival in the NSW Blue Mountains gained worldwide media attention has been signed by 22 Management.

The Sydney-based firm would not disclose how much Mr Neale stands to make from the arrangement or exactly what the deal will entail.

However, sources said Mr Neale had rejected a number of other offers in excess of $100,000.

"The deal has only just been struck and it is still very early days," a spokeswoman said.

22 Management agent Sean Anderson signed up the pair today amid a series of offers from other media outlets.

Jamie sparked a huge and costly search after he got lost while bushwalking near Katoomba, west of Sydney.

He emerged from the bush on Wednesday with only minor scratches and dehydration.

Dozens of offers have been made by media outlets, including many from Britain, to secure the rights to sell Mr Neale's tale of survival.

Mr Cass has previously said any money made from selling the story would be donated to organisations which helped search for his son.

Click to expand...

Re: Who's a lucky boy then?

Didn't his father say that any money received from selling the story would be donated to the people involved in the search and rescue and other charities...

Re: Who's a lucky boy then?

It will be interesting to see how much they handover now some big $$$ are getting waived around. I have to admit I am deeply suspicious of the whole story but will gladly eat my words if he hands over all the dosh.

jono1887 said:

Didn't his father say that any money received from selling the story would be donated to the people involved in the search and rescue and other charities...

Click to expand...

Re: Who's a lucky boy then?

He's a pommie bastard.

Full stop.

gg

Re: Who's a lucky boy then?

Garpal Gumnut said:

He's a pommie bastard.

Full stop.

gg

Click to expand...

HAHAHAHAHAH OFF WITH HIS HEAD!


thanks GG that brought a big grin to my dial

Re: Who's a lucky boy then?

Here we go.. they added some more to the story after I posted it. They certainly appear to be going to milk it.

JAMIE Neale's new celebrity agent says some money from his exclusive publicity deal would be donated to those who rescued him.

Sean Anderson, who runs Sydney based 22 Management, signed the British backpacker who survived 12 days lost in the Blue Mountains and his father Richard Cass to an exclusive deal today.

He did not say what percentage of the money the pair will earn from selling their story would go to Blue Mountain rescue teams.

"It is still their intention to help out the people who rescued Jamie," Mr Anderson said.

"In that respect nothing has changed.

"We're going to be doing an interview with him which everyone is chasing."

22 Management represents a number of other high profile clients including former cricketer Michael Slater and model Jennifer Hawkins.

Rival celebrity agent Max Markson said Mr Neale stood to earn a fortune from the deal.

"It's worth $100,000 instantly," Mr Markson said.

"There's a lot of money to be had from it. He'll be in one of the London tabloids on Sunday, probably The News of the World. He'll be on 60 Minutes on Sunday and GMTV in England on Monday. It's a great story."

Mr Markson said he expected Mr Neale to be back in England on Monday and told The Times newspaper in London he could expect income from a wide range of opportunities.

But he warned that media interest in the story would die out "within a week".

"It's such a good survival story," Mr Markson told The Times.

"He could go on to do some speaking engagements, he should be doing some educating, talking to kids at school to help them learn about survival skills.

"There could even be a diet book - Jamie's 12-day diet."

Agents said they believe a large number of other media outlets offered Mr Neale lucrative publicity deals.

After more than a week of widespread searches, the 19-year-old Mr Neale wandered into a campsite yesterday and was taken into the care of two bushwalkers.

Having spent nearly two weeks of freezing nights huddled under logs or his jacket, Mr Neale emerged from the bush looking gaunt and with a few scratches.

Click to expand...

Re: Who's a lucky boy then?

Theres something more to this story than meets the eye.

Is anyone aware of what sort of temps and times people can survive in comparable situations?

nights apparently -2 to -5C...any rain?

If it was me, 3 nights max, take me out in a body bag

however, if I had proper thermals and a small tent stashed somewhere, fuel stove and a few days food, who knows

I might like to test myself out for a 5 figure payout.

Anyone remember what was the story with that Australian guy in the Himalayas, who survived on a Mars bar for 40 odd days, some years ago

Re: Who's a lucky boy then?

More clowns than a circus!

Sydney spruiker Max Markson, who acts for Chk Chk Boom girl Clare Werbeloff and party brat Corey Worthington, said any suggestion Jamie should return monies made from his rescue could be countered by turning the scrutiny on emergency services.

"I think it comes down to the individual person about who pays the costs but he could argue they didn't do a very good job of finding him if he was missing for 12 days," Mr Markson said.

Click to expand...

Re: Who's a lucky boy then?

overit said:

More clowns than a circus!

Sydney spruiker Max Markson, who acts for Chk Chk Boom girl Clare Werbeloff and party brat Corey Worthington, said any suggestion Jamie should return monies made from his rescue could be countered by turning the scrutiny on emergency services.

"I think it comes down to the individual person about who pays the costs but he could argue they didn't do a very good job of finding him if he was missing for 12 days," Mr Markson said.

Click to expand...

Max Markson is a parasite on society.

Markson must live a very sheltered life because with comments like the above, he would not want to walk down any dark alleys particularly in the proximity of a rescue services organisation.

Brittish backpacker lying ?

From Ch9 -

British backpacker Jamie Neale has denied claims his ordeal in the New South Wales Blue Mountains was a hoax.

The 19-year-old was found dehydrated, but in relatively good health, after spending 12 days in freezing conditions.

After his rescue, there were claims that the incident had been staged and that no-one could have survived for so long in such conditions.

But in a paid interview with Channel Nine last night, Mr Neale said those allegations were unfair.

"I know what's happened and the people who were out searching for me ... know that it happened and that's good enough for me," he said.

"People say what they want. I'm not lying, it's the truth."

He has been criticised for not taking his mobile phone with him or notifying anyone of his plans.

Mr Neale said he takes responsibility for the mistakes he made.

"In the UK you walk for a day, you'd end up in a pub, whereas out here you can get lost so easily," he said.

"You should respect the fact and be more prepared and think about what you're doing a lot

Click to expand...

He also said he had a diary where he put all his final messages to friends but amazingly he's lost it !

Watch this space.

Re: Who's a lucky boy then?

awg said:

Theres something more to this story than meets the eye.

Is anyone aware of what sort of temps and times people can survive in comparable situations?

nights apparently -2 to -5C...any rain?

If it was me, 3 nights max, take me out in a body bag

however, if I had proper thermals and a small tent stashed somewhere, fuel stove and a few days food, who knows

I might like to test myself out for a 5 figure payout.

Anyone remember what was the story with that Australian guy in the Himalayas, who survived on a Mars bar for 40 odd days, some years ago

Click to expand...

i am with you on this

totally unbelievable story

this guy looks in great shape arriving in hospital after being found

Re: Who's a lucky boy then?

Agentm said:

i am with you on this

totally unbelievable story

this guy looks in great shape arriving in hospital after being found

Click to expand...

he does not look dehydrated or dirty which is how you should look like when you get lost, looks like he probably spent a few nights in a hotel.
me smells a fake here his looking forward to his book deals , tv appearances, the pommy audience will love it.

hmmmmmmmmmm


i thought the poms stopped sending their crooks to australia 100's of years ago......



Police to reinterview British backpacker Jamie Neale


Australian police want to reinterview the British backpacker Jamie Neale to clarify the details of his incredible 12-day survival in dense bushland outside Sydney.


The announcement came as Mr Neale's father, Richard Cass, was forced to deny suggestions that the remarkable story was a hoax.

"I don't want people saying he's a fake or anything like that, because I know that sort of thing is not true," he said.

Mr Cass said his son, who he said was fragile, depressed and had yet to crack a smile, was aware that "people were disbelieving".

He said: "He's been though a God awful experience and for him then not to be believed that will obviously be quite psychologically damaging."

Officers involved in the operation to find Mr Neale after he went missing in the Blue Mountains on July 3, have said they had "no reason to disbelieve" his story, but wanted to double-check the exact details of his account.

Mr Neale, who walked out of the remote Cedar Valley on Wednesday morning after encountering two bushwalkers on a fire trail, said he had lived on seeds and a leaf that "looked like rocket", drinking from streams and sleeping under a log.

He emerged from the dense forest scratched, dehydrated and suffering from exposure, but otherwise unharmed.

His relative good health has led to questions over how he managed to keep himself alive in unfamiliar and unforgiving terrain in the middle of the Australian winter.

Mr Neale set off without his mobile phone and without letting anyone know where he was going. He had little food and was wearing just a shirt and dark jacket that did not protect him from the elements and made him hard to spot by rescuers.

No explanation has been given of how Mr Neale, who had never been to Australia before, knew which seeds, berries and grasses from the bush would be safe to eat. It was also not clear how he managed to stay dry and warm despite the wet and sometimes freezing conditions in the mountains at this time of year.

One experienced bushwalker from Katoomba also queried how Mr Neale had managed to lose his way on the track from the Ruined Castle rock formation to Mount Solitary, which he said was easy to follow, even in the dark.

The man, who has extensive hiking experience in the region, said: "It's not easy to just wander off that track."

But Superintendent Tony McWhirter, local area commander, said there was nothing to suggest his story was untrue.

He said they wanted to reinterview him over "where he was and how he went about what he did for that period of time". Mr Neale was briefly interviewed after his rescue, but has not spoken to police since.

"The incredible is always hard to believe, if I'd have said a missing bushwalker had been found deceased that's logical and explainable," Supt McWhirter said.

"But there is nothing to suggest that anything he has said is not factual."

Mr Neale released a brief statement on Thursday thanking "everyone for their help and support", but has so far declined to speak publicly about what happened during his 12 days in the wilderness.

It is believed he has signed an exclusive deal with an Australian news network worth about £25,000. Earlier this week Mr Cass pledged his son would not profit from the story and that any money he earned would be donated to local search and rescue teams.

on Thursday night Mr Neale, was recovering in the Blue Mountains Hospital. Doctors said he was stable, in good mental health and showed no signs of hypothermia. He was also sleeping normally and eating "everything the hospital had to offer."

Andrew Sharp, a local survival expert, said he would like to hear more detail about how Mr Neale stayed alive. The teenager had been "pretty lucky" with his experiments with bush tucker and would have "suffered a bit" during the sub-zero nights, he said.

Mr Neale, of Muswell Hill in north London, went missing on July 3. He was later seen by a married couple at the Ruined Castle rock formation, about five miles from Katoomba. His rescue on Wednesday was described by local search teams as "a miracle".

Re: Who's a lucky boy then?

Agentm said:

i am with you on this

totally unbelievable story

this guy looks in great shape arriving in hospital after being found

Click to expand...

To my knowledge, it rained up there quite a lot during those times.

I am not an expert on human physiology, but afaic, if he got wet, with temps as low as -5c, death from exposure would be certain within 3 days, UNLESS he had taken preparations.

So how did he not get wet?

I dont know where i read this, but I seem to recall, there was a question about his mental state at some time prior.

I have some experience in solo bush wacking.

looking at those pics, his condition is way too good

he would have been scratched beyond recognition...but not one scratch on his face.

IMO he must have had a tent, and sat put,

bushbashing in conditions like these leads to numerous falls, due to the slippery terrain, and rotted vegetation.

In addition to this he would have been savagely attacked by leeches.

When you fall, your face gets scratched by all manner of vines, sticks, rocks

His face should look like 10 rounds with Mike Tyson.

btw, no-one should ever go into the bush without a compass.

there are other things that make me disbelieve, although I am unfamiliar with the topography of the exact area, there are fairly simple methods to navigate out, including following any creek downstream, or climbing the most prominent ridge and staying put.

Of course, I could be wrong, I once read an incredible account of Ludwig Leichardt, solo in the Barrington mountains for 3 weeks, but I cant remember what time of year it was

What the hell was 60minutes thinking. $200k for this story. Are they really that lazy and that desperate for a story?

I admit I'm a total idiot - backpacker Jamie Neale

July 20, 2009 07:01am

A BRITISH backpacker rescued after 12 days in near-freezing conditions admits he was "a total idiot" to venture ill-prepared into the rugged Blue Mountains bush.

Jamie Neale, 19, last night re-enacted his trek for Channel 9's 60 Minutes program, which paid him $200,000 for his story.

Mr Neale told the program he was badly under-prepared for the trip.

"I admit I'm a total idiot," he said.

"In the UK you can walk for a day and you'd end up in a pub.

Click to expand...

Jamie Neale
London backpacker lost in Australian bush survives for 12 days


Ruined castle
Sunday 12th July, police focus their search on ruined castle after hikers described a 10 minute conversation they had with the backpacker

Jamie found
Two bushwalkers find Jamie near the Narrow Neck fire trail, near Katoomba, 15th July.


Katoomba youth hostel

Thursday 2nd July, teenager checks into hostel, before embarking on walk. Hostel staff report him missing two days later.