A woman who had been missing for approximately six weeks until she was discovered on Sunday had sustained a leg injury, preventing her from escaping the bush.
Shelly Crooks used her extensive bush craft knowledge to survive for six weeks as she attempted to slowly make her way out of the bush.
She was discovered on Sunday by conservation volunteer Alex, who was walking the Fox River Inland Pack Track when he came across her.
He ran for an hour through the South Island bush track to get help after coming across her.
Police say Ms Crooks was picked up by the West Coast Rescue Helicopter and flown to Greymouth Hospital.
"She wants to express her gratitude to the tramper who found her, and everyone involved in the search and rescue efforts to try and locate her," police said in a media release.
During the search operation, police described Ms Crooks as an experienced tramper, well equipped to go off the grid for a number of days.
But her father, John Crooks, told media her lack of communication was unusual and he was concerned she was not using her cellphone or bank account.
Ms Crooks had last been seen in Westport on December 22.
The 36-year-old mother of four had told a friend she was hitchhiking to Opotiki, her hometown in the Bay of Plenty.
Newshub.
