A single puff of smoke in dense bush was the first glimpse by searchers that missing trampers Dion Reynolds and Jessica O'Connor were alive
A single puff of smoke in dense bush was the first glimpse by searchers that missing trampers Dion Reynolds and Jessica O'Connor were alive
27 May 2020
The pair were spotted when smoke from a fire was seen in the Tasman head waters of the Fraser Stream shortly before 1pm by a search helicopter.
A medic was winched down to find them tired and hungry after running out of food.
Nelson search co-ordinator Sergeant Malcolm York says the helicopter crew did well to find them in thick bush.
York says when they went to investigate the smoke the helicopter rotor blew the 15 metre high canopy apart to reveal them.
He says good tramping gear kept them alive.
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