A man in his 40s has been rescued after going missing in outback Queensland.

The mechanic was last seen leaving Cloncurry on Friday February 13, about 3pm, bound for Cairns in a white LandCruiser.

His employer BDS Mechanical Repairs raised concerns for their employee earlier this week, saying he had travelled the route “on many occasions over the years”.

“When he failed to arrange to pick up parts as scheduled, and BDS or his family were unable to make contact with him, we immediately reported him as missing to authorities,” the company wrote on social media.

Aerial photograph of man near four-wheel-drive

The mechanic had been missing for three days in the Queensland outback when his white LandCruiser was spotted from the sky on Wednesday. (Supplied: LifeFlight)

A mustering helicopter spotted the man about 55 kilometres north-west of the rural township of Richmond, where he had set up a campsite.

The LifeFlight helicopter service was called in and landed near the camp.

The man was not injured, but was flown to Mount Isa Hospital for further treatment.

Narrowing the search

The mechanic left Julia Creek on Friday, but it took until Monday before the alarm was raised.

For authorities, it meant starting to search a route stretching through almost 1,000km of sparse Queensland bush.

Senior Sergeant Adam King said authorities were working off the last ping of his phone to a telecom tower, which was just outside Julia Creek on the day he left.

“He said he was going to try to get to Cairns, but he was going to go the long way. We didn’t know which way that was,”

Snr Sgt King said.

But a breakthrough came on Wednesday from station owners near Woodford Station who remembered a driver hoping to cross the Clara River, and how they told him not to bother.

“That information narrowed our search down,” Snr Sgt King said.

“And utilising three mustering choppers we had today, Rescue 400, we had the Challenger jet and a light fixed-wing plane focusing on five different areas. We started a grid-style pattern.

Helicopter landing near four-wheel-drive on its side

The mechanic had been driving to Cairns when he lost contact with his family and employer three days ago. (Supplied: LifeFlight)

“One of those mustering choppers located him this afternoon about 1pm.

“He’s ended up rolling the vehicle and he’s set up camp.

“We don’t know exactly at what time he did or date he rolled that vehicle, but it was obviously some time Sunday evening or Monday.”

Police say he had six litres of water with him and camping gear.

“He was prepared, but still very lucky that he was located.”