"I've been looking for you" - those were the first words of New Zealand Defence Force medic Jase Denharder as he reached trampers Dion Reynolds and Jessica O'Connor.
Amid emotional scenes the pair was rescued yesterday from dense bush in difficult terrain in the remote Kahurangi National Park.
Air force personnel involved in today's retrieval of rescue crew who remained overnight, were on their way back to Ohakea this afternoon, when they diverted to Nelson to talk to media.
Here's RNZ Nelson reporter Tracy Neal and videographer Simon Rogers with the story.