20 Mar 2011

Missing American tramper turns up safe and well

4:19 pm on 20 March 2011

An American tramper, overdue by more than a week in the Kahurangi National Park, has been found safe and well.

The alarm was raised when Lorenzo Stowell, who is aged in his mid-seventies, failed to emerge from the bush last weekend.

Police had said Mr Stowell was a fit, well-equipped and regular visitor to the National Park.

A search and rescue spokesperson, Sherp Tucker, says Mr Stowell surfaced in response to media reports of his supposed disappearance.

He contacted the police in Takaka and informed them he was safe and out of the bush.