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.

The condition of an Australian man who was lost while trekking in Laos
is continuing to improve.

Hayden Adcock, 40, from Melbourne, went missing during a trip at the
end of July and was found 11 days later.

He has been in a critical condition in a Bangkok hospital since he was
rescued.

His father, Stan Adcock from Queensland's Sunshine Coast, says doctors
have been using a new type of injection in an effort to stop his son's
internal bleeding.

Mr Adcock says he should be eating solid foods again in the next few
days.

"He is improving and I suppose the other thing is he hasn't eaten of
course since his problems, and they're anticipating that within three
days they'll be able to start giving him solids again, so that's
terribly good news also," he said.

"The wonder drug that they've put into him is apparently taking effect
and whilst he's still on the critical list all the functions are
apparently improving and the internal bleeding is slowing down or it's
almost stopped."

On Aug 28, 11:05 pm, DKJ gmail.com> wrote: