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A pair of Ashburton trampers lost in south Canterbury for two nights have been located safe and well this morning, police said today.
Adam Cassidy and Mathew Cague, both 22, set off on what was meant to be a day climb of Mt Peel, near Geraldine, on Friday morning.
A search and rescue operation was launched after the pair sent a text message to friends that evening saying they had lost their bearings.
Detective Mike Wingfield said phone contact was lost with the men and police believed their batteries had run out of power.
Drizzling rain and fog prevented a helicopter being used in the search yesterday.
Concerns for their safety mounted as the search was called off last night, leaving the duo, thought to be ill-equipped, to spend a second night outdoors.
However, clear skies today allowed a helicopter to join dozens of ground searchers scouring Mt Peel.
Mr Wingfield said one of the men managed to get a text message to a friend this morning, describing the area they were in.
They were found by the helicopter crew about 10.30am.
"They're reasonably well from my understanding," Mr Wingfield said.
"They've got family and friends waiting for them, and they're obviously very relieved.
"Everybody was getting pretty concerned for their wellbeing."
Mr Wingfield said the wet day yesterday had cooled temperatures which he imagined would have dropped to around 3degC overnight.
The two men were being checked over by a doctor at the search base.
- NZPA
