The following release can be attributed to Inspector Olaf Jensen, Otago Lakes Central Area Commander.
Concerns were raised with Police yesterday morning that a couple who were planning on walking in the Routeburn Track area had not been heard from since late July. The couple are tourists from the Czech Republic.
The couple’s car was located at the Track’s carpark and appears to have been untouched for a period of time.
At around 1.30pm Search and Rescue (SAR) and Police flew a helicopter along the route where they found the woman in a Department of Conservation warden's hut.
She advised Police they had entered the track on 24 July and her partner fell down a steep slope on 28 July. She managed to reach him, however, it’s believed he died not long after. She then made her way to a hut where she has been since early August.
The woman was taken to hospital for assessment and thankfully is in good health, although she is understandably upset by these events.
Police and SAR will be returning to the track this afternoon in an effort to locate her companion, conditions permitting.
This is a highly unusual case. It very unusual for someone to be missing in the New Zealand bush for such a long period without it being reported.
I appreciate there are a number of unanswered questions, however, until we can piece together exactly what has happened we are unable to say anything further.
Police expect to speak to the woman later today and will be working with her to establish exactly what has happened.
ENDS
Police Media Centre
Note to media – no interviews will be facilitated at this stage. We may be in a position to do interviews later this afternoon.