18 Jul 2016

Missing hunter found in Otago in 'remarkable' condition

5:51 pm on 18 July 2016

A hunter who was missing in the Blue Mountains, near Balclutha, since Saturday has been described as being in remarkable condition despite his ordeal.

Close up of a police officer at an incident on a residential street. 6 July 2016.

Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

A police Search and Rescue team found the hunter this afternoon, after he became separated from his hunting party on Saturday.

Constable Murray Hewitson told Checkpoint with John Campbell that it was the man's first time hunting in that part of the country.

He had recently moved from the North Island to the South Island and was not familiar with the weather or the terrain.

Mr Hewitson said for what he had been through, the hunter was a lucky man.

Search and Rescue teams had searching the bush area near Balclutha, along with a specialist search dog.

The man endured a night of cold, drizzly weather and there had been concerns for his health and safety.