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'Chur, bro. Choice!' Tough Kiwi granny's relieved whānau give Oz media Kiwi-est interview ever

December 17, 2018

Overwhelmed with "tumeke" after learning of his "tough old goat" nana's miracle survival story in the Western Australia bush, a Perth man with Auckland roots shared some relieved laughs and salty Kiwi charm with Australian media.

"How f***ing exciting, aye?" Blair Coatsworth said as the impromptu press conference came to a close. "I can't stop swearing. Chur, bro! Choice!"

His 84-year-old grandmother, Patricia Byrne from Whangamata, was found on the side of a road yesterday after spending four days lost in remote bush at Stirling Range National Park. She had no food or water with her when she went missing, leaving family fearing the worst.

"Man, we're feeling really, really happy, aye," Mr Coatsworth told the assembled media shortly after the ordeal came to an end. "All the Kiwis would understand the term tumeke. We are just really excited.

"We expected when the police officer walked over to us, we're getting the worst of the worst. And then he just hit us with the best lotto we could ever happen - or have for Christmas, mate. That's the best Christmas present ever."

The family's immediate reaction to the good news was, "What the f***!" he said with a guffaw.

But it's actually not too surprising that if anyone her age could survive that long in the bush it would be his nana, Mr Coatsworth added.

"She's in a lot of trouble, that's what she is. I'll tell you that much," he said with another laugh. "We all want to have strong words with her, but we always knew she was a tough old goat.

"She's probably the hardest 84-year-old you'd know. She'd take on a gang of people, that woman. And to hear she came out the way she did is sort of what you'd expect from her."

Asked if the rescue will make for an extra-special Christmas, he replied: "Yeah, how 'bout that man? ...Choice."

With additional family flying to Australia from New Zealand today, the horrific-turned-joyous occasion will make for a special start to the holidays, he added.

"Yeah, mate, we're going to have a big celebration tonight. We have heaps of family coming down. It's going to go nuts," he said.

"We've had this community come together for everyone. We've been on knife's edge ever since, and then it's just been like, 'What the f*** man, this is awesome!' Awesome stuff, man."

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