Lost New Zealand hikers rescued after surviving on puddle water for 19 days

Two hikers have been rescued from a national park in New Zealand after duo survived 19 days by drinking puddle water to stay alive. Dion Reylds and Jessica O'Conr were on a five-day camping trip in Kahurangi National Park, home to shooting location for "Mines of Moria" in film Lord of Rings, but got lost in a heavy fog.

Speaking to Rio New Zealand, Reylds said that y decided to camp at a place and wait for help after y got disoriented due to fog which lasted three days. duo eventually ran out of food supplies and h to depend on a fresh mossy stream, at a two minutes’ walk across gully, which kept m alive.

New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) supported Police and New Zealand Land Search and Rescue Inc. (LandSAR) for a week in search for two before rescuing m on May 27. Reylds said that a helicopter flew within 50 metres but failed to spot m, with Flight Lieutenant Loic Ifrah corroborating story saying he could barely see pair despite kwing ir approximate location.

“It was a pretty incredible spot by crew, and of course a pretty big effort by LandSAR and NZ Police, it was pretty impressive to watch it all unfold,” said Flight Lieutenant in a statement.

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'Hn't given up'

After pair were rescued from National Park, y were given chocolate bars by crew during flight, said NZDF. Ifrah said re were lots of emotions after pair were on board helicopter and flown to waiting ambulances.

“We hn’t given up obviously orwise we wouldn’t have poured our efforts into it, but as time went by and b wear in area, thoughts do turn to worst. That ds to sense of relief and euphoria,” he ded.

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