An eight-year-old boy has been rescued after spending six hours lost in bush at Waiuta, near Reefton on the West Coast, yesterday.
Police say the boy, from Christchurch, went missing about 11.30am while walking with family on the tracks surrounding the historic West Coast mining village.
Land Search and Rescue volunteers from Greymouth, Hokitika and Westport responded, including a LandSAR dog team and cave search team.
A Greymouth rescue helicopter assisted search efforts from the air, and the Department of Conservation provided expert local knowledge.
The boy was found by a member of the public on Snowy River Road, north of Ikamatua, about 7pm.
He had walked about 3km through dense scrub and forest.
The boy was unharmed during the incident and has been reunited with his relieved family.
Police say they are grateful for the efforts of the local community and LandSAR volunteers.
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