He said: "We spoke to him on Friday and he said he was having the time of his life.

Joan Falconio: Going through hell

"He was in Alice Springs and said they were planning to go up country."

"It was only when Joanne's parents were watching the news on Sunday that they realised it could be them.

"We wouldn't have known anything unless Joanne's parents had rung.

"We are just waiting for the phone to ring and are just sitting tight and praying."

Mr Falconio, a building surveyor from Hepworth near Huddersfield, started seeing Joanne, a travel agent from Huddersfield, five years ago.

They left Britain last November to go on a round the world trip.

'Trussed up'

They had already visited Thailand and Cambodia before going on to Australia where they had been touring in a camper van.

Ms Lees has told police that her boyfriend had got out of the couple's Kombi van to help a man, who claimed he had engine trouble.

The couple were having the time of their life

She said she was trussed up and thrown into a van, but escaped by wriggling her legs free.

Mrs Falconio said: "They're a lovely couple.

"Peter is a very outgoing man, who lives life to the full.

'Kindest boy'

"He is the kindest boy in the world.

"He would go and help anybody who was in trouble.

"When we heard he had stopped to help this motorist we thought that was just typical of him."

Peter, one of four brothers, graduated last year from Brighton University with a degree in building and construction management.

The family of Joanne, from Huddersfield, are also hoping to fly to Australia to be at her side as she recovers from the trauma of her ordeal.

Step-father Vincent James has spoken to her briefly on the phone.

"She was obviously very traumatised and shocked.

"She's being looked after by the police and the authorities in Alice Springs as they wait for news on Peter."