A Korean teenager missing overnight in National Park has been found safe and well.
16-year-old Geonwoo, was last seen by family near Taranaki Falls around 4pm yesterday afternoon.
A 20-strong search and rescue team assisted by a police dog have been scouring the area throughout the day. Mid afternoon the team found Geonwoo’s name and yesterday’s date etched into a clay bank on the track between Taranaki Falls and Tawa Lakes.
The search team concentrated their efforts on this area and as they closed in on Mangatepopo Hut they came across a tramper who had just seen the boy approximately 200 meters from the hut. Rescuers found him a short time later.
The boy was slightly hypothermic but otherwise unharmed. He has been checked out by St John and flown by helicopter back to National Park and reunited with his family.
Due to the language barrier Police do not know precisely what happened to Geonwoo but it is believed he had wandered from his family and got himself lost.
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 027 234 8256.