£100,000 TV deal for backpack boy Jamie
RESCUED backpacker Jamie Neale was last night set to earn up to £100,000 for the story of how he survived for 12 days in the hostile Australian bush.
As the 19-year-old gap-year student from London was discharged from hospital, it emerged that he has struck a cash deal for an interview with Australian TV.
But his stepfather Richard Cass promised that “the majority” of the money would go to the rescue services who saved his son’s life. Jamie thanked hospital staff and his rescuers as he was ushered away for the interview with Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes show, which will be broadcast on Sunday.
“I’d like to thank everyone for their support, especially the staff at Blue Mountains Hospital,” he said.
Jamie made blankets out of tree bark to survive the freezing winter nights. Police Superintendent Anthony McWhirter, who led the search, said he found a tree that had extra thick and loose bark that peeled off easily. Jamie also told his stepfather that he drank rainwater from leaves and ate seeds and wild plants. Supt McWhirter said: “This is the greatest tale of survival that we’ve seen in the mountains.”
Emergency services launched a huge search after Jamie failed to return to his hostel after embarking on a trek in the bush.
He was finally found by hikers just as Mr Cass was about to return to London. On hearing his son had been found, he said: “He’s come back from the dead.”