A British man wandered into the remote outback in Australia after becoming separated from his girlfriend and survived for three days by eating bugs and flowers and burying himself in the sand – a technique he learnt from watching Bear Grylls on television.

Following an extensive search, Anthony Collis, 32, was discovered barefoot, sunburnt and “very thirsty” in a rugged stretch of the Pilbara region in north-west Australia.

He disappeared during a journey with his girlfriend Debbie Blomfield, 39, from their home city of Perth to Darwin.

About half-way into the 2,500-mile trip through some of Australia’s most isolated territory, the pair reportedly had an argument and separated, abandoning their utility vehicle which apparently became stuck in the dry red sand.

Ms Blomfield walked for five miles and arrived, dehydrated and disoriented, at a remote mining camp, where she reported that Mr Collis was missing.

An ensuing search involving planes, helicopters, four-wheel drives and Aboriginal trackers promptly found their vehicle and then discovered some of Mr Collis’s clothing and equipment.