Friends and family of Jessica O'Connor and Dion Reynolds are 'absolutely over the moon' the pair are safe.
The family of one of two bushwalkers, missing in Kahurangi National Park in New Zealand's South Island for 19 days, say they are "absolutely over the moon" the pair have been found alive.
They were found about 12.49pm on Wednesday after a search helicopter spotted smoke and saw two people waving at them, Tasman Police Search and Rescue officer Sergeant Malcolm York said. St John said they were taken to Nelson Hospital with minor injuries; Reynolds had a strained ankle and O'Connor a strained back from a fall. They walked into the emergency department with blankets over their heads.
she had a short conversation with him on Wednesday. She was unsure how they survived, but said they were "both happy to be out"."As soon as I found out he was missing, I cried ... I'd only just started reconnecting with him in the last six months ... And I just wanted him and Jessica to be safe and well.""We are buzzing. We just had a shot of rum [at the bar] to celebrate and we had goose bumps.
Heather Simpson, who had been camping with friends of O'Connor and Reynolds at the Anatori camp, was one of the last people to see the pair."I asked where they were going and how long for, and they said they were heading up river and had four to six days' [worth] of food, which they planned to ration and stretch by fasting as long as possible, to spend longer," she said."Both [were] young, fit and experienced with good gear and intelligence and skills.
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