A CANADIAN man found in the Amazon five years after disappearing from his Toronto home survived on berries during his epic barefoot jolly - and it was all to reach an Argentine library.

Anton Pilipa's family had all-but given up hope of seeing him again after he disappeared from his Canadian home in 2012.

But they received the surprise of their lives in December when Brazilian police called to say they had found the 39-year-old.

And now his brother Stefan has revealed the family's "shock" when he was found.

6 Anton's journey is believed to have begun as a quest to reach the Buenos Aires National Library of Argentina and turned into a 12,000 mile jaunt around two continents

6 Anton, left, was reunited with his brother Stefan, right, five years after he disappeared from his Toronto home. He was discovered in the Brazilian city of Manaus Credit: Go Fund Me / Stefan Pilipa

He told the Mail: "I told myself that he was dead. Because that was the only thing I could come up with that explained his absence.

"But in my heart of hearts, I didn't think he could be. I was really shocked."

Yesterday The Sun revealed how Anton - who had been suffering from mental illness - had traipsed all the way to the Amazonian city of Manaus, some 6,500 miles away.

The journey saw him pass through Mexico, some of central America's most dangerous gang-infested cities and the humid tropics of Brazil's Amazon rainforest.

During the walk he survived on fruit, nuts and berries while also being handed food by generous strangers.

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Now it has emerged that Anton's epic journey was even LONGER and was all part of a bizarre dream of reaching Argentina's National Library in capital Buenos Aires.

Yet despite his exertions, he was turned away at the doors and began walking back - ending up in Manaus where he was found.

That led to a dangerous walk through the deadly Amazonian rainforest in which he admits meeting "bad men".

Anton added: "I've never felt alone. It's been a lot of thinking for years, sleeping in the open. It's very simple to live, we do not need many things."

He also admitted to the BBC: "I know that I am very lucky to be alive. I am very happy to be able to return to my family."

And despite spending five years on the road during his 12,000-mile round-trip, he is thought to have barely spoken to anyone on his travels or picked up any Portuguese or Spanish.

It is a journey that would leave even British celebrity explorer Levison Wood blushing.

The TV star recently appeared in hit TV show Walking the Americas where he walked from northern Mexico through central America to the Colombian border.

But even that mind-blowing journey comes in at less than a fifth of Anton's jaunt.

6 Anton's epic journey saw him travel at least 12,000 miles from Toronto to Manaus via Argentine capital Buenos Aires

6 He is believed to embarked on the epic journey in a bizarre bid to reach the National Library in Argentine capital Buenos Aires. When he arrived at its doors, he was turned away Credit: Getty Images

Anton completed much of his journey without shoes.

The family were finally reunited on Monday when Anton was jetted back to Canada after Stefan flew out to get him.

They had only been given the news after Anton's chance encounter with a Canadian-Brazilian police officer near Manaus.

Cop Helenice Vidigal picked up Anton as he walked along a main road.

She soon noticed something was not right and began to probe him on his background, finally realising he was Canadian.

She told CBC: "I knew he didn't belong to that road. Anton is a different type from us Brazilians, he stands out.

"I thought, if he says he's Canadian, I'm sure I can find his family."

6 Anton's family had almost given up hope of finding him again but were given the shock of their lives when Brazilian police contacted them after a police woman quizzed Anton on his background

6 Stefan rushed out to Brazil to help bring his brother home and was finally able to do so on Monday - five years after he vanished Credit: CDC

Sure enough, Helenice was able to track down Anton's family and contacted a "shocked" Stefan.

He immediately jetted out to Brazil to find a way of getting his brother back, who by his own admission "looked really rough".

But the plan faced disaster when Anton fled into the jungle, leaving his family fearing he would be attacked by its big cats or crocodiles.

When he was finally discovered Stefan was able to take him back to Canada.

Yet despite his horrific ordeal he was arrested over years-old assault charges upon his return.

He was released on bail but will face court over the charges.

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