August 20, 2008 - 6:45PM

A 40-year-old Victorian man lost in the Laotian jungle for 11 days
remains seriously ill in a Bangkok hospital after being evacuated by
helicopter, Australian authorities say.

The man went missing after setting out on a short walk to a waterfall
in a national park in Laos's Khammouane province on July 31.

"He is in a serious but stable condition receiving treatment," a
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) spokesman said on
Wednesday.

"The Australian Embassy in Bangkok is providing the man with consular
assistance, including regular visits to him in hospital."

DFAT is also communicating with the man's family in Australia.

The Australian Embassy in Vientiane was notified the 40-year-old was
missing on August 8 and two staff immediately travelled to the area to
help coordinate search efforts.

However, heavy rain and flooding hampered efforts on the ground and it
was not until a helicopter search was conducted two days later that
the man was found and evacuated to Bangkok.

Four people died in Laos last week as a result of flooding caused by
record high water levels in the Mekong River.

dkj