A Briton who sparked a major search operation after going missing three days ago in the Australian outback has been found, police have said.



Anthony Collis, 32, was driving to Darwin along the Canning stock route (CSR) when he became separated from his travelling companion on Thursday afternoon.

The alarm was raised hours later when Collis’s friend walked into a camp site disorientated and dehydrated.

Western Australia police launched a large search operation for Collis and discovered his car on the CSR, a track running through the desert.

Collis, who is originally from Wiltshire but is believed to have lived in Perth for some years, was found on Sunday morning in bushland near the track.

“He is dehydrated and suffering from exposure but otherwise fine,” a police spokesman said. “He is currently being flown by helicopter to Newman where he will be treated in hospital.

“Mr Collis had been missing since Thursday. He had been driving the Canning stock Route with a 39-year-old woman when they became separated.

“She was located by travellers at the Georgia Bore camp on Thursday night which lead to a search and rescue operation commencing at first light on Friday.”

Collis’s mother, Karen, praised the emergency services, writing on Facebook: “Thanks to everybody. My son has been found. All of you guys out searching, too many to thank individually but you are our heroes. Everybody in the family will be eternally grateful to you all.”