Missing German tourist Alexander Stelling turns up in Tailem Bend after five days seeking help

A TAILEM Bend woman has told of her surprise when a missing German tourist knocked on her door this morning. But the mystery remains — where has Alexander Stelling been for the past five days?

A GERMAN tourist who mysteriously vanished after crashing his car on April 14 has turned up at a property in Tailem Bend.

But one big question remains — where has he been for the past five days?

Police had been searching for Alexander Stelling, 32, since he crashed his car a few kilometres east of the Murraylands town last Thursday.

His wallet and passport were found with his car — just 3km from the Blacketts Rd house where he turned up on Tuesday morning about 6am.

Marie Henderson said Mr Stelling had been dishevelled when he knocked on their door.

“My husband started to get ready to go out to work and there was a knock on the door and the tourist was there. He just asked him in and he sat down and had a drink,” Mrs Henderson said.

They gave some shepherd’s pie to Mr Stelling, who had apparently slept on their patio overnight with the couple’s 12-year-old mara-kelpie cross, Gem.

German tourist Alexander Stelling. Photo: SA Police

Marie Henderson tells how missing tourist Alexander Stelling knocked on her door this morning — five days after crashing his car near Tailem Bend. Picture: Tait Schmaal

Mrs Henderson said she was relieved Mr Stelling was found safe and relatively unhurt, although it was difficult to communicate with him due to the language barrier.

“Police did say they were going to do a big manhunt so we saved them the trouble,” she said.

“He was fine, he had some blood on his jeans but that’s all.

“He had his wrist bandaged up and there was some dirt and dust in his pockets.

“I don’t know where he was as he couldn’t tell us anything about the last four to five days.”

She said finding water in the area would not have been a problem for Mr Stelling during his ordeal, but food would have been scarce.

Alexander Stelling was transferred by ambulance from Tailem Bend District Hospital to Flinders Medical Centre this morning.

Frank Henderson said it seemed Mr Stelling had survived by taking honey and leaving money to pay for it.

He said a neighbour in the area had reported the bizarre honey disappearance from their outside shed but it was only after Mr Stelling was found that they linked the two events.

Mr Henderson said he knew who Mr Stelling was as soon as he opened the door.

“You don’t expect to see strange people, you don’t expect to see anybody, at six o’clock in the morning,” he said.

He said it was well-known the German tourist could be in the area.

“It is just one of those things. You always keep your eyes open,” he said.

Mr Henderson said Mr Stelling had “obviously copped a whack to the head” and seemed confused.

“I gave him some breakfast and a couple of glasses of milk. He didn’t want coffee,” he said.

Despite Mr Stelling’s broken English, he did manage to understand the tourist when he said he was part way through a month-long Australian holiday.

“He has stayed in the area but he is probably too confused,” he said.

Despite the unusual circumstances surrounding Mr Stelling’s ordeal, Mr Henderson said it was not the strangest incident he had been involved with having volunteered with the Country Fire Service for about 30 years.

A police car outside the Tailem Bend District Hospital, where Alexander Stelling was initially taken for examination after being missing for five days. Picture: Tait Schmaal

Tailem Bend District Hospital staff shielded Mr Stelling with blankets and boards as he was put into an ambulance about 10.30am.

He has been taken to Flinders Medical Centre for further treatment.

Mr Stelling was last seen leaving the scene after his car hit a guard rail on the Dukes Hwy east of Tailem Bend at 5.10pm on Thursday, April 14.

Police conducted an aerial search on Friday and issued several appeals for information about his whereabouts over the weekend.

His phone, property and passport were found inside the black Renault Koleo station wagon, Queensland registration 504-VSL.

The hired station wagon was picked up at Sydney 8.30am on Monday and was meant to be dropped off at Melbourne on April 24.