British man missing in Paparoa National Park found alive

The 28-year-old had set off from Punakaiki at 8am on Saturday. Photo / Greymouth Star

The English man who went missing in Paparoa National Park on the weekend has been found alive.

The 28-year-old, in the country on a working holiday, was reported missing at 8:45pm on Saturday when he didn't return as expected from a walk up Mt Bovis.

He had set off from Punakaiki at 8am on Saturday.

The man, who'd been in the country for three weeks, was found sometime between 4:30 and 5:30 this evening, near Bovis Creek.

Two helicopters, with heat-seeking devices, 15 ground searchers and a tracker dog were involved in the hunt for the British man, who was lightly clad.

Searchers first came across his footprints and his water bottle before finding him near the creek.

He's been airlifted to Grey Base Hospital where he'll be assessed for mild hypothermia.

The man's family are en route to New Zealand to be with him and are expected to arrive on the West Coast tomorrow.

Police area commander Inspector Mel Aitken thanked all those involved in the search.

"I would like to thank searchers and the helicopter crews for their commitment over the past two days.

"Thanks to their expertise, I'm pleased there has been a successful outcome to the search."