A 60-year-old man lost for almost two weeks in the elements of far north Queensland has begun his recovery in hospital.

Kewarra Beach man Garry Amey, 60, was reported missing on October 11 after failing to return to his home, north of Cairns, following a morning walk.

He had refused help from two people who swam out to him on the same morning and was also spotted on the beach that afternoon before disappearing.

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Emergency services combed nearby bushland and coastline for ten days before Mr Amey was finally spotted in the water at Wangetti Beach, about 20 kilometres north of where he went missing.

They feared the worst after no sign of Mr Amey was uncovered and a 4m crocodile was spotted in waters near where he vanished, Perth Now reported.

Police said a woman called authorities about 3.00pm on Saturday after she pulled Mr Amey from the water at Wangetti Beach.

Police said Mr Amey was sunburnt, dehydrated and unable to talk.

“He’s disoriented, he doesn’t recognise us at the moment due to all the dehydration … the confusion with what’s going on,” Mr Amey’s son, Justin, told Seven News.

“I heard some people found him at Wangetti Beach in the water … he was pulled out and then they call an ambulance.

“Hopefully when everything is normal … he can tell us what happened.”

Mr Amey was taken to Cairns hospital where he remained in a stable condition, but was yet to recollect any details about his ordeal.

– with ABC