A missing man in Turkey accidentally joined his own search party for hours before realizing he was the person they were looking for, local media reports.

Beyhan Mutlu had been drinking with friends on Tuesday when he wandered into a forest in Bursa province.

When he failed to return, his wife and friends alerted local authorities and a search party was sent out.

Mr Mutlu, 50, then stumbled across the search party and decided to join them, NTV reported.

But when members of the search party began calling out his name, he replied: “I am here.”

He was taken aside by one of the rescuer workers to give a statement.

“Don’t punish me too harshly, officer. My father will kill me,” he reportedly told them.

Police then drove Mr Mutlu home. It is not clear if he was given a fine.