A man has been plucked to safety after spending three nights in the open in the Richmond Ranges in Marlborough.
Above the clouds on the Richmond Range. Photo: Bruce Hopkins
Police say the alert was raised when the 30-year-old, identified only as Joseph, failed to come out of the bush at Lake Chalice on Wednesday.
He was last seen at Red Hills hut near St Arnaud, in the Nelson Lakes National Park area.
A search was launched at first light today and a helicopter spotted him six kilometres from his intended exit route in the Motueka River area.
Police say he was cold and wet and had blisters and cut hands.
They say he relied on digital technology and screenshots of maps, but should have had a physical map and have familiarised himself with the area.