Franz Josef man found with 'self-inflicted' injuries

Dylan Bliss. Picture / NZ Police

A man who sparked an intensive search in South Westland after disappearing late on Saturday night had self-inflicted injuries when he turned up early today.

Police revealed today that Dylan Earle Bliss, 33, had injured himself shortly after he left a barbecue in Franz Josef about 11pm on Saturday.

Police were alerted when Mr Bliss failed to turn up for work at a local supermarket on Monday morning and began an intensive three-day search covering a 40 sq km area of bush and tracks around Franz Josef and involving more than 50 volunteers, three search dogs and a white water rescue team.

Constable Tony Le Sueur said today Mr Bliss had "self-inflicted injuries" when he was found but they were not life-threatening. Mr Bliss' injuries would have been caused "in the early part of his disappearance".

"These injuries, although serious, are no longer life threatening," he said.

"A preliminary debrief suggests Bliss sought a place of solitude, placing him just outside the search area, until he made his reappearance last night."

Mr Le Sueur said just before Mr Bliss was coincidentally found by his cousin Bodine Bliss, police and dogs had been "actively searching" in the vicinity after receiving information from a member of the public.

His uncle, Dawson Bliss, said today it was a "miracle" his nephew was still alive as the family had feared the worst.

"He was traipsing along the road and rather disorientated," Mr Bliss told National Radio.

"He didn't know who Bodine was. He told him 'I've only been gone a couple of days' -- he thought it was Tuesday."

Sixty soldiers from Burnham Military Camp near Christchurch arrived in the small South Westland township last night and were to join the search today.

But Mr Bliss was found wandering disorientated on Franz Josef Glacier Access Rd about a kilometre from the township at 12.30am today.

His cousin Bodine had been looking for a place to camp after he and Dawson decided to join the search.

Police said in a statement early this morning that Mr Bliss had been in "remarkably good condition" when he was found.

He was treated by a nurse in Franz Josef and transferred to Greymouth Hospital where he was expected to remain for several days for further treatment.

- NZPA