Rescuers say two trampers who were washed away while trying to cross a flooded river in Arthur's Pass National Park had a miraculous escape.
The Christchurch women in their twenties lost their footing in the Mingha River.
The search coordinator, park ranger Graeme Kates, says one managed to regain her footing quickly and made it to the other side.
He says the other woman was swept almost half a kilometre down stream in rapids.
Mr Kates says amazingly she managed to pull herself ashore and suffered only minor injuries.
She then walked back to Goat's Pass Hut and raised the alarm by radio.
Mr Kates says the Westpac Rescue helicopter was dispatched and flew both women to Arthur's Pass.
He says the outcome could have been much, much worse.
Mr Kates says they made obvious mistakes such as not getting a good weather forecast and walking into a flooding river.
He says they were both very lucky.
Mr Kates says several other trampers trapped in huts by flooded rivers will probably get out on Monday.
