<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A diabetic camper missing for nine days in remote Victorian bushland has told how he feared he would not survive the ordeal.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Troy Milne, 61, was rescued about 5pm yesterday near the town of Buchan in the east Gippsland region, when he lit a fire to alert searchers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Today he arrived at Essendon Airport in outer Melbourne on his way for hospital treatment and spoke exclusviely with 9News.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span> </span><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/melbourne-cctv-shows-woman-randomly-stabbed-while-walking-in-broad-daylight/0f1383c0-1eec-44d0-90fc-da6c4f46a0c5" target="_blank"><strong><span>Woman randomly stabbed while walking to work in broad daylight</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I thought I was a dead duck in water ... I just drank lots of water," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Milne lit the fire near the Kirby Cross Track and succeeded in drawing firefighters to the area. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They finally found him after spotting his Jeep Wrangler SUV close to the small blaze.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/camping-found-after-nine-day-search/9c64827f-2e7a-49b6-9e96-3eee8735d93d" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The vehicle had bottomed out on the terrain and was not drivable, prompting Milne to light a fire in the hope emergency services would respond.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was taken to a local hospital for treatment and observation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Milne went missing after leaving his campsite at Woodside Beach for a quick trip collect supplies last Tuesday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It triggered an extensive nine-day search to try and find the insulin-dependent diabetic amid fears he had suffered a medical episode.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/thunderstorms-to-hit-nsw-today-weather-forecast/d7f95e21-b77a-4ed9-9916-162dc8e24e44" target="_blank"><strong><span>Storms to bring winds, hail to millions today</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police said finding Milne alive was a remarkable result.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We really feared the worst so to be able to contact Troy's family and give them the fantastic news was a wonderful result," Inspector Wayne Rothwell said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Troy was without his medication for a long period which left him disorientated and confused so we believe he turned off the highway at some point and became lost in the bush.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It was a challenging search due to the huge area that Troy had been spotted travelling around so it was extremely difficult to narrow down where to concentrate our efforts.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Once Troy lit the fire, it drew the attention of our fire crews who quickly responded and located him."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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