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Missing teenager found alive by hikers Missing teenager found alive by hikers
(2 months later)
A teenager believed to have been missing in the Australian bush for nine weeks after disappearing from his home has been found alive by two hikers.A teenager believed to have been missing in the Australian bush for nine weeks after disappearing from his home has been found alive by two hikers.
Matthew Allen, 18, was reportedly covered in leeches and mosquito bites and had gangrene on his feet and lower legs when he was found, although his injuries are said not to be life-threatening.Matthew Allen, 18, was reportedly covered in leeches and mosquito bites and had gangrene on his feet and lower legs when he was found, although his injuries are said not to be life-threatening.
Allen was located in dense scrub about 2km from his home in Westleigh, north of Sydney, by a couple who discovered some of his belongings. He was evacuated by police helicopter.Allen was located in dense scrub about 2km from his home in Westleigh, north of Sydney, by a couple who discovered some of his belongings. He was evacuated by police helicopter.
Allen, who was also suffering from exhaustion and dehydration, told his rescuers he had been surviving by drinking from a creek and had a small amount of food that he took with him, Australia's Daily Telegraph reported.Allen, who was also suffering from exhaustion and dehydration, told his rescuers he had been surviving by drinking from a creek and had a small amount of food that he took with him, Australia's Daily Telegraph reported.
One of his neighbours said they were surprised that he had survived for so long in the bush. "The bush is very dense, and unless he was very au fait with how to survive, I don't know how he did it."One of his neighbours said they were surprised that he had survived for so long in the bush. "The bush is very dense, and unless he was very au fait with how to survive, I don't know how he did it."
Local police say they believe that Allen was in the bush for the entire time that he was reported missing and was not living under any shelter.Local police say they believe that Allen was in the bush for the entire time that he was reported missing and was not living under any shelter.
Detective Senior Constable Ben Wrigley told the Australian Associated Press: "Anyone who is missing for that length of time in those kind of conditions – you wouldn't expect to see them again.Detective Senior Constable Ben Wrigley told the Australian Associated Press: "Anyone who is missing for that length of time in those kind of conditions – you wouldn't expect to see them again.
"I was amazed and very happy that everything turned out they way that it happened.""I was amazed and very happy that everything turned out they way that it happened."
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