Man survives 18 days in the Australian bush eating mushrooms and drinking water from the dam

(CNN) – A man who had been missing for two and a half weeks in the Australian bush was found alive after surviving on mushrooms and water from the dam, police said.
Police launched an extensive search for Robert Weber, who was last seen with his dog, leaving a hotel in Kilkivan, Queensland, on January 6.

Authorities searched the dense riparian forest, rivers, dams and steep terrain in humid conditions to look for Weber, but canceled the rescue mission after a week.

Weber, 58, was discovered on Sunday morning – 18 days after he was last seen – by an owner, who spotted him near a dam.

Weber said he was lost after trying to avoid traffic, telling CNN affiliate 7News: “I should be coming home that night. I was going home happily.”

“(It was) bumper-to-bumper traffic, so I’m going to turn right and go up the mountain and go down the other side,” he said. “I made a split-second error decision and paid 18 days for it.”

Police said Weber’s car was “stuck” on a road he was unaware of and that he spent three days with his dog before running out of water.

“He left on foot and got lost and stayed in a dam where he survived sleeping on the ground, drinking water from the dam and eating mushrooms,” said Queensland police in a statement.

“I had no shelter. I passed out. My body couldn’t take it,” said Weber. “That was the unfortunate part of it.”

Authorities added that Weber was taken to the hospital after being exposed, but is “safe and well”, although his dog has not been found.

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