Australian grandfather survives by eating ants after getting lost in the bush

An Australian grandfather has been hailed for his "fantastic survival skills" after keeping himself alive in the bush for six days by eating black ants.

After going missing on Wednesday, 62-year-old Reginald Foggerdy, an experienced bushman, was found sheltering under a tree on Tuesday morning.

Mr Foggerdy was described as an 'experienced bushman'. Credit: WA Police

He had been sitting under the tree in sweltering conditions for two days, police said, adding that he was "extremely dehydrated" and "a bit delusional".

“It was extremely hot, extremely remote, and most people probably wouldn’t have survived,” Superintendent Andy Greatwood of Goldfields Police said told the Western Australian.

Mr Foggerdy is boarded onto a helicopter. Credit: WA Police

Search teams had begun looking for Mr Foggerdy after he got lost while trying to shoot a camel during a hunting trip with his brother.

He was eventually found in an "extremely remote location" around nine miles from where his brother had last been seen, after specialist teams discovered tracks offering fresh hope.

Mr Foggerdy's family told 9News Australia that he remained in "poor health" after his rescue, and continued to receive treatment.