An experienced bushman who disappeared in the West Australian desert while hunting for a camel has survived for six days without water by eating black ants.
Reginald George Foggerdy, 62, was on a hunting trip with his brother last Wednesday when he struck out on his own to follow a camel and became lost near the Shooter's Shack camp, about 170 kilometres east of Laverton in the Goldfields region.
After a major land and air search was launched, Tactical Response Group trackers followed footprints and found him on Tuesday morning under a tree, about 15km from where he disappeared.
"He had gone out taking off after a camel and then became disorientated and lost," Superintendent Andy Greatwood said.
Supt Greatwood said Mr Foggerdy was extremely dehydrated and somewhat delusional when rescuers arrived.
"He's been under that tree for two days eating black ants, so that's how he's managed to survive," Supt Greatwood said.
"Fantastic survival skills. And fantastic skills by our trackers who have managed to find him in an extremely remote location.
"I don't think anyone gave up at the end of the day, but certainly you have concerns when people are out in the bush for such a long time."
Mr Foggerdy was given first aid and then taken to AngloGold Ashanti's Tropicana mine, where a doctor treated him before he was taken to Kalgoorlie Hospital.
Supt Greatwood said the bushman had been wearing shorts, a T-shirt, a cap and thongs when he disappeared, and did not have any equipment.
"It's been extremely hot, extremely remote and most people probably wouldn't have survived, so he's done a fantastic job," he said.
Mr Foggerdy's wife Arlyn told 6PR radio her husband went hunting every year with his brother but she was not going to let him do it again.
His sister Christine Ogden said the family never lost faith he would survive.
"He is an experienced bushman," Ms Ogden said.
"He lived up in Kalgoorlie and surrounding areas for 20-odd years, and he was a miner.
"It could happen to anyone out there because of the conditions of the land."
Ms Ogden said her brother could not hear the search crews looking for him because the bush was so dense.
She said the past week had been horrible for the family.
"It's been full of emotions ... it's been awful," she said.
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