London man dies after desert ordeal

6:14pm Sunday 14th December 2003

A north London man who died after he became stranded in an Australian desert was only three miles from help when he collapsed, police said.

Thomas Sykes, a property developer from Kilburn, was driving through the Great Sandy Desert in Western Australia alone on Friday, when his four-wheel drive became stuck on a track.

He decided to leave the vehicle and walk for help.

Police said he had walked more than 30 miles in very warm weather before he collapsed, just three miles away from an Aboriginal community.

When trackers and police found Mr Sykes, he was alive but seriously dehydrated.

He was taken to a nursing post, where he died.

A post mortem is due to take place this week.