Hungry trampers enjoy ‘group hug’

Rescuers say pair survived 19 days in bush thanks to ‘staying put’ and the right gear

Hungry and exhausted after a 19-day ordeal lost in “hostile” thick bush, a young couple were plucked from a tiny 3m clearing after smoke from their fire alerted crew on a searching helicopter.

And after being winched on to a Defence Force helicopter yesterday afternoon deep in Kahurangi National Park, Jessica O’Connor and Dion Reynolds devoured chocolate bars and enjoyed a “group hug” with their rescuers.

The pair, both 23, entered the bush on May 9 but became lost early on in their tramp due to fog. It’s believed they spent about two weeks hunkered down in rugged terrain, desperate for water and running out of food.

Despite both suffering injuries they survived freezing temperatures. Rescuers credited the pair’s “excellent equipment” for keeping them alive.

O’Connor’s parents greeted news of their rescue with tears.

Mark O’Connor said they spoke to their daughter briefly by phone from her hospital bed. “She literally just said, ‘ Hey mum and dad, it’s Jess,’. So we’ll learn a bit more but apparently they’re both in good shape so that’s good,” he told TVNZ.

“She was very emotional,” said mum Simone. “I think she was in tears and couldn’t talk much ... [but] we will talk more once we see her.”

The O’Connors had spent “many sleepless nights” worrying about the missing pair, but Simone said she never doubted they’d be found alive.

“It’ll be interesting to hear the full story but whatever it is it’s seen her through so that’s absolutely fantastic,” Mark said.

A huge search began after the pair were reported missing on May 18.

At first searchers had good weather on their side but the search was suspended over the weekend due to heavy rain, reducing the odds of the pair being found alive.

They were finally found yesterday just before 1pm in the Anatori area, amid smiles and relief from rescuers.

Air Force Flight Lieutenant Loic Ifrah said co-ordinates from crew on a civil helicopter which first saw the stricken pair led him straight to where the trampers were waiting.

The pilot said it was an “incredible piece of searching” that had unearthed their location in a small clearing behind a dead tree.

“I knew exactly where to look and looking down into that hole, I still couldn’t see them.”

The clearing was not much bigger than a car, with overhanging branches. Rescuers carefully lowered a medic down to see the pair.

“They had been in isolation for long enough that they could afford to give our search and rescue medic a nice group hug,” Ifrah said.

The helicopter had been hovering 50m above steep terrain which he admitted was not the easiest job but one they were well trained for.

Once on board the young trampers were given chocolate bars by friendly crew members, he said. “I think they were very happy to see us.”

Ifrah said the job was not quite finished because they had run out of time to pick up all of the searchers in the area. “We are obviously over the moon that they have been found safe and well and that they can rejoin their families.

“We are back into it tomorrow to recover the other search teams.”

He heaped praise on the civilian helicopter crew who pinpointed the missing pair’s location, as well as the huge efforts from police and Landsar volunteers.

O’Connor and Reynolds set off near the Anatori River carpark on May 9. Shortly after midday on May 12, O’Connor sent a text confirming she was safe in the bush. But they lost their way in fog early in the tramp.

At some point Reynolds injured his ankle and O’Connor strained her back in a fall.

After that they stayed put for several days until they needed water.

It’s believed the pair had been without food for some time.

They were hungry and exhausted but relieved to see their rescuers.

Nelson Bays Area Police Commander Inspector Paul Borrell said it was the “fantastic outcome” they had hoped for, even in the face of increasing concerns as the days passed.

“I am so very, very proud of our Search and Rescue team made up largely of volunteers and supported by police.”

The pair seemed to be in good condition considering it had been a 19-day ordeal in “such a hostile environment,” Borrell said.

Nelson police search and rescue co-ordinator Sergeant Malcolm York said: “This search was particularly challenging being such a remote rugged, bush-clad area.”

Up to 50 people including police, NZDF, search personnel and other volunteers had all desperately wanted to return the pair safely to their families, he said.

“Such outcomes are always totally dependent on the co-operation and hard work from a wide range of dedicated people . . . from a number of organisations including police whom I want to sincerely thank.”

York said it was “pretty rare” to have such a positive outcome after such a long search.

“They did the right thing, they stayed put, and they made themselves visible, so when we got to that spot, we were able to see them.”

He said the pair had excellent equipment that kept them alive in cold conditions.

“They’ve done well to survive. Just the fact that after 19 days they’re in such good condition ... it shows they’ve done the right thing.”

She was very emotional . . . [but] we will talk more once we see her. Simone O’Connor, Jess’ mother