The 71-year-old walker who spent three nights lost in the bush without food and water was said to be in a stable condition in Wollongong Hospital yesterday.
Bruce Ludbrook, who suffers mild dementia, left his home in Ross St, Fernhill, last Tuesday at 4pm and trekked up into the escarpment.
He failed to return and a large-scale search was launched, which culminated on Friday with a search team of 50 police, SES, Volunteer Rescue Association and Rural Fire Service volunteers.
SLIDESHOW: Missing man found alive
Missing man's amazing story of survival Mr Ludbrook was found face down in the mud by two trail bike riders that morning, 1km north of Brokers Nose. He was suffering from dehydration and hypothermia but was otherwise well. As paramedics arrived on the scene, he commented simply: "Gee, I walked a long away."
NSW Ambulance Service paramedic Kristie Sky said Mr Ludbrook was lucky to have been found safe and well, but another night in the bush and it might have been a different story.
"At this time of year, the cold is a big problem," she said.
"The elderly and the young are more susceptible to heat and cold so that would have been one of the challenges he faced.
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"Going without food and water would be a problem because the body needs nutrients to function, otherwise it eats into reserve stores. Blood sugar levels drop and that alone can cause you to become unconscious, as can hypothermia."
Ms Sky said dehydration was a major threat. "If you become clinically dehydrated you start going into organ shutdown," she said.
Ms Sky said Mr Ludbrook's situation could have been much more dangerous if he had any injuries.
Mr Ludbrook's sister, Hazel, whom he lives with, yesterday said her brother was well but she wasn't sure when he'd return home.
Ms Ludbrook said she still had no idea what had happened to her brother in the time he was missing as he hadn't pieced together events of the previous days.
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