Farmers make a stunning discovery after recognizing a large ‘HELP’ signal written on a mud highway

A Queenslander has lived to tell his miraculous survival story after getting stuck in a remote, flood-stricken part of the outback for more than 48 hours. 

The man, whose name has not been released, was reported missing by his family on Friday night when he didn’t return home.

Little did they know, he was stuck in the middle of nowhere after his 4WD became bogged in floodwaters southeast of Charlesville, about 750km west of Brisbane.

All hope was nearly lost after 48 hours went by and there was no trace of the man, despite a wide-scale search and rescue being launched.

But in a shocking twist, nearby cattle station owners Bronte and Max were checking on their livestock when they spotted a giant ‘HELP’ sign written on a dirt road and a pointed arrow. 

They followed the road until they came across a makeshift teepee the man had been sheltering in after building it out of an old cattle lick feeder. 

‘It gives me the shivers when I think about the ‘HELP’ sign he drew in the mud on the road. If he hadn’t done that, we wouldn’t have found him,’ Bronte said.

‘I pulled up and said “are you (the missing person)?”, he said “yes” and I said “my God, do you know that you’re a missing person and that everyone is looking for you?” He pointed at the shelter and said “yes”.’ 

Bronte, Max and their daughter are seen with the missing man and the rescue crew after he was found sheltering under a makeshift teepee 

The man made this shelter as he waited for help after getting stuck in Queensland floodwaters

The man had been forced to abandon his car when it became bogged and walked a staggering 60km to try and find help.

Severely dehydrated, and his feet aching, he was forced to stop and try to build a shelter, surviving on just one protein drink per day.

‘He looked completely exhausted and was sunburnt and dehydrated. He said all he could think about was sleeping for two weeks,’ Bronte said.

Bronte and Max took the man back to their farmhouse and gave him some water and vegemite on crackers. 

Emergency services were called and a LifeFlight helicopter flew in to pick the man up and take him to hospital.

Heroically, Bronte and Max also offered to tow his bogged car he’d discarded two days earlier.

LifeFlight flight paramedic Aaron Hartle said the man was recovering in the Charlesville Hospital.

‘He’s probably walked around 60km trying to find help. It’s a remarkable survival story,’ Mr Hartle said.

‘He was extremely tired and absolutely wrecked. He was just relieved that he was found and going back to his family, but also couldn’t believe the situation he was in.’