WARRNAMBOOL man Michael Burn was found "safe and well" yesterday morning after being missing for seven days.
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Mr Burn was recognised by a police officer in Cavendish about 11.30 yesterday morning.
Hamilton Crime Investigation Unit Sergeant Mark James said Mr Burn had been camping in bushland north of Cavendish and had got a lift into town after the battery in his car went flat.
"The local policeman up there recognised him and had a chat and established it was Mr Burn," he said.
"He was taken to hospital to be checked over and has been reunited with his family. His wife came up from Warrnambool and his brother was there as well."
Sergeant James said Mr Burn was unaware of the attention he had created.
"There are a couple of personal issues and he just wanted to get away for a while," he said. "He hadn't had any access to media and was unaware how many people had been out looking for him.
"The main thing is he's safe and well. We always prefer to have an ending like this. All is well that ends well."
Mr Burn had been missing since last Sunday after leaving his brother's Tarrington home, where he had spent the weekend helping with renovations. He was captured on CCTV filling up his ute at a Hamilton service station later that night but hadn't been seen since.
Police carried out an extensive search of the area, driving along possible routes between Hamilton and Warrnambool, with the air wing scouring bushland areas with no luck.
On Thursday afternoon, Mr Burn's wife Anabel and brother Russell made an emotional plea for him to make contact, saying the disappearance was completely out of character.
jwoolley@fairfaxmedia.com.au