Australian hiker spent two weeks living on wild ferns in the Borneo jungle

  • 03/11/2016
(Facebook/RTM Sarawak)
(Facebook/RTM Sarawak)

An Australian hiker who got lost in a Malaysian jungle has been found alive, emaciated and with leeches on his legs.

Engineer Andrew Gaskell of Tasmania says he ate wild ferns and "virtually nothing" else to survive.

Mr Gaskell was discovered on Tuesday about 20 metres from a hiking track in the Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak, Borneo.

The 26-year-old had reached the peak of the 2376 metre-high Mt Mulu, but got lost during his descent.

"I ended up spending that whole night just wandering and really getting myself badly disorientated," he told ABC News.

Water was plentiful as the area gets seven metres of rainfall a year, but Mr Gaskell had to improvise for food.

"I picked up a few wild ferns from the jungle. Aside from that I ate virtually nothing."

Mr Gaskell had infected cuts on his feet and insect bites, but sustained no major injuries.

His mother Elizabeth said it was like an "amazing weight" had been lifted when she heard he had been found.

"I just said 'hallelujah'."

Mr Gaskell is already planning the next leg of his trip.

Newshub.