A CANADIAN thought dead after he vanished from his home five years ago has been found – in the AMAZON.
Anton Pilipa's family had all-but given up hope of seeing him again after he disappeared from Toronto in 2012.
But they received the shock of their lives in December when Brazilian police called to say they had found the 39-year-old.
His brother Stefan believes Anton – who was suffering from mental illness when he vanished – had walked and hitch-hiked much of the 6,500-mile journey.
He even said his brother had completed much of his journey without shoes.
The family were finally reunited on Monday when Anton was jetted back to Canada after Stefan flew out to get him.
They had only been given the news after Anton's chance encounter with a Canadian-Brazilian police officer near the Amazonian city of Manaus.
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Cop Helenice Vidigal picked up Anton as he walked along a main road.
She soon noticed something was not right and began to probe him on his background, finally realising he was Canadian.
She told CBC: "I knew he didn't belong to that road. Anton is a different type from us Brazilians, he stands out.
"I thought, if he says he's Canadian, I'm sure I can find his family."
Sure enough, Helenice was able to track down Anton's family and contacted a "shocked" Stefan.
He immediately jetted out to Brazil to find a way of getting his brother back, who by his own admission "looked really rough".
But the plan faced disaster when Anton fled into the jungle, leaving his family fearing he would be attacked by its big cats or crocodiles.
When he was finally discovered Stefan was able to take him back to Canada.
Yet despite his horrific ordeal he was arrested over years-old assault charges upon his return.
He was released on bail but will face court over the charges.
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