‘Eternally grateful’ tramper plans to

Tramper Jessica O’connor says she is ‘‘eternally grateful’’ to those involved in the emergency response that saved her life and hopes to use the experience to educate others.

O’connor, who was rescued from the Kahurangi National Park with fellow tramper Dion Reynolds on Wednesday, after a 19-day ordeal in the bush, has thanked those involved in the nine-day search and rescue operation in a message posted on the Givealittle page set up by her brother to fundraise money for LANDSAR.

In the message, O’connor thanked ‘‘every single person that has been following and supporting this crazy story’’.

She said the love from the community was ‘‘overwhelmingly beautiful’’.

‘‘What we went through is something that you never think would happen to yourself, but I am eternally grateful for the emergency response that led to us being found.’’

O’connor said the pair ‘‘wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the efforts of the Police, LANDSAR, Fire Service, Defence Force, all the volunteers, friends and family, donors and the power of positive energy’’.

Reynolds has previously said