A search was launched after a tourist from New Zealand disappeared on a Thai island on Sunday.

Shawn Mace Bushell, 56, went missing on Koh Phangan in Surat Thani province on February 26.

He was staying at the Sandy Bay Resort, but could not be found in his room when his friends went over for a visit.

The concerned tourists reported his disappearance to the police and a search and rescue operation was launched on Monday February 27.

Officers and volunteers scoured the island for Shawn's whereabouts and found a red rental motorcycle abandoned on the pavement leading up to a hill.

The team suspected he had trekked up the mountain on foot but lost his way.

The rescuers fanned out to comb a one-mile radius around the motorcycle. They finally found the frightened tourist in the woods in the Than Sadet Koh Phangan National Park.

However, he appeared spooked and did not trust the rescue team so fled further into the jungle. He was safely recovered later that evening.

Police Major Wichit Boonchid of the Koh Samui Tourist Police said: 'The tourist was afraid of the team and climbed up the hill to escape from them. They tried to appease him until he calmed down.'

Shawn was successfully rescued and brought back down from the mountain at 9 pm. He was taken to the Koh Phangan Hospital for treatment. His relatives and friends have extended their gratitude to the tourist police for their assistance.