The ordeal experienced by a British backpacker in Australia's Blue Mountains could encourage more people to buy one-way travel insurance.
Jamie Neale, a 19-year-old backpacker from Muswell Hill in London, spent 12 days in the Australian Blue Mountains near Sydney when he lost his bearings during a hike and survived on a diet of nettles.
After a massive regional search for the teenager, he was eventually found by two hikers and is now recovering in hospital.
Richard Cass, Mr Neale's father who flew to Australia to help with the search, told the BBC: "The millions that have been spent on this search, the man hours that have gone into it... all because he goes out on a walk without his mobile phone."
Gap year travel insurance is always an option for people concerned about having problems while enjoying an overseas trip.
In related Aussie news Uluru, otherwise known as Ayers Rock, may gradually phase out climbing opportunities over the next decade in accordance with local Aborigine wishes.
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