The brother of one the Fiordland hunters who went missing says it is a "huge relief" that they have been found safe and well on Tuesday.
Alan Mortimer and his 14-year-old son Danny were reported overdue by fellow hunters on Sunday afternoon after they failed to return from a trip to the Rowallan Forest, near Lake Hauroko.
They had been due to return from a hunt on Saturday and were believed not to have been properly equipped for a night in the bush.
READ MORE: Major search underway in Southland for two missing hunters
Danny's older brother Casey Glover told 1News it was a huge relief they were found safe and well on Tuesday.
"They looked a bit battered and bruised and tired and Danny has a bit of a twisted ankle but he’s in the right hands to be dealt with [now they've been transported to hospital]."
Glover thanked rescue teams that had worked tirelessly trying to find the pair.
"The families would sincerely like to thank the tireless work of LandSAR volunteers from right around the South Island to bring everyone home safe and working tirelessly around the clock.
"We recognise the challenging circumstances which everyone is working under and our heartfelt appreciation goes to these people that have undergone this work."
The pair were understood to have been located by a reporter having made their own way out of the bush. They were transported to Southland Hospital to be assessed as a precaution.
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