Jamie Neal

[Bobbisox]

I am pleased he has been found alive and well after 12 days in Australia's Bush, but don't you think it was irrespnsible of him to go off on his own into unknown terrain such as the Blue Mountains, a lot of the people looking for him were volanteers but a lot were'nt, so it must of cost a lot of cash to scramble helicopters and for medics and ambulances.

[sara3]

he's a teenager.. I'm sure he'll be in trouble once he's recovered!

[daffy654]

Seems like a resourceful lad,I doubt most teenagers would have survived that long in the Australian bush.
Are you suggesting that his family pay for the search and rescue efforts Bobbisox?

[Bobbisox]

yes sara I agree but if he's old enough to travel around the world he should be a little more responsible?

[Bobbisox]

no not at all daffy, his Dad also said the same thing about the cost when interviewed, resourceful most defintley and that has to be admired but allegedley there was a notice telling backpackers not to go it lone there

[daffy654]

I wasn't criticising you there bobbisox :) I have said for many years that anyone who requires rescuing because of their own stupidity (or lack of thought) should contribute to the cost of the rescue efforts.People such as extreme sports competitors,inexperienced hill walkers who go out in bad weather,people who hire a boat and have no idea how to operate the radio when the boat breaks down and the RNLI have to go get them....this happened locally to me the other day and the people on board the boat had a 1 year old baby with them!

[Bobbisox]

yes, I know tat daffi np there, it just doesn't happen either here or broad which suprises me a bit, but he's alive and well than Godand that is priceless isn't?

[Bobbisox]

oops typo, should have read Thank God...

[daffy654]

I admit that I thought it would be a body recovery mission when I read that he was missing.The Australian outback is a dangerous and VERY big place! He is an extremely lucky lad and I hope he has learned something from all this...you never know,maybe he will decide to join a voluntary search and rescue outfit when he is recovered and back in the UK.

[Bobbisox]

or write about his experience and make a fortune...lol
all those tele people waiting in line???

[LeMarchand]

I've always wondered why such people are admired when they do such things for their own pleasure and end up risking other people's lives whilst (say) drug users are reviled...

[Bobbisox]

what I said LeMarchand, I admires his ability to endure the conditions in a hostile enviromnt, not the guy himself who was acting rather foolishly, as for drug users being reviled, I really do not get the conection as many of the "pushers" also risk the lives of others!

[Booldawg]

I can confirm that him and Bear Grylls will be doing a survival special on TV this year.

If they don't then both PR agents need their heads banging together!

[LazyGun]

Bah - careless youth creates panic and costs valuable resources looking for him. Glad I am that he was found in reasonable health etc, but now he is being financially rewarded for ******** behaviour ,which surely is wrong ;

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/artic le6715905.ece

[LeMarchand]

The point I was making about drug users is that, like "extreme" sports lovers, they are chasing an artificial high that their "normal" lives aren't providing them with. If someone overdoses, it involves an ambulance; if someone gets lost etc it involves search crews/rescuers risking their lives.

Obviously there are other ways that drug-takers can harm others (becoming violent, the aforementioned violence that is often involved somewhere in the supply chain) but the person they are most li,kely to directly harm is themselves.

[roguepink]

I think calling the Blue Mountains, 'the Outback' and the 'Bush', give the wrong impression. Whilst all walking is dangerous if you do not know where you are going/are adequately prepared, the Blue Mountains are some of the easiest walking I have ever done. It's like a big forest, with very clear paths marked out. I personally thought the Lake District was harder to navigate and I had a map for the Lake District!

He seemed a bit of a muppet not to bring his phone out with him though, but his dad did say any cheque he got he would give to the rescue services.