Man survived weeks on mushrooms and dam water

A man has been found 18 days after he was seen leaving a southeast Queensland hotel, revealing his incredible story of survival in the bush.

Robert Webber survived by eating mushrooms and drinking dam water. Picture: Queensland Police Service

A Queensland man missing in the bush for 18 days survived by eating wild mushrooms and drinking dam water.

Robert Weber was miraculously found yesterday morning, almost three weeks after he was seen leaving the Kilkivan Hotel Motel on January 6 with his dog by his side.

Mr Weber was yesterday found by Member for Gympie Tony Perrett and wife Michele on their Kilkivan property.

Robert Weber has been found after he was last seen on January 6 at the Kilkivan Hotel. File Photo.

Mr Perrett said it was “a miracle,” and “just a relief” when the couple crested a hill on their property and saw Mr Weber “waving frantically” at them.

“I said ‘Robert Weber?’ and he said ‘yep’,” Mr Perrett said.

“We were really not certain we would find him alive.

“You just kept hoping you’d see him somewhere.”

The man’s miraculous discovery comes days after police were forced to call off an extensive air and land search for Mr Weber and his dog – who is still missing.

Police and SES crews scoured dense bushland, rivers, dams and steep terrain during undesirable conditions northwest of Gympie, while on January 17, they located Mr Weber’s abandoned white 2000 model Ford Falcon at Mudlo Rd at Tansey – just 3km from where the Narangba local would finally be found.

The search continues at Tansey for missing man Robert Weber Pictures: Ch 7 Sunshine Coast

“Initial indications are Mr Weber’s car had become bogged on a road he was unfamiliar with,” Queensland police said in a statement.

“He remained at his car with his dog for three days before running out of water,”

“He left on foot and became lost and remained at a dam where he survived by sleeping on the ground, drinking dam water and eating mushrooms.”

According to loved ones, Mr Weber had planned to travel to Rockhampton on the day he was last spotted, however the alarm was raised after he failed to arrive at his destination.

Police at the time urged anyone who lived around the Kilkivan area to look out for Mr Weber, while yesterday, the efforts of the community paid off.

Mr Weber was taken to hospital yesterday morning suffering from exposure to the elements, but was otherwise safe and well.