A Department of Conservation worker at the centre of search and rescue operation in the Macraes Mine area in Otago is safe and well.
The DoC course student, 18, went missing while doing some field work for the department on Wednesday afternoon.
Police say he spent the night at an abandoned house and walked to a nearby farmhouse about 7.30am on Thursday.
Police held fears for his safety as there are a number of old mine shafts in the area.
