Mother of teen lost with father in Tasmania’s South-West heads to search staging post at Strathgordon

UPDATED: A RELIEVED woman reunited with her husband and son after they were lost for two nights in the Tasmanian wilderness has thanked all involved in rescuing the pair. WATCH THE VIDEO

UPDATED, 4.20pm: A RELIEVED woman reunited with her husband and son after they were lost for two nights in the Tasmanian wilderness has thanked all involved in rescuing the pair.

John Ward, 42, and son Stephen, 13, of Hobart, survived their ordeal near Lake Pedder by building a shelter out of shrubs and eating food left behind by other bushwalkers.

Both were flown to safety by the Westpac Rescue chopper earlier this afternoon about being found by a ground search party about 1pm today.

Authorities said the pair was found near Nine Mile Creek, about 15km from campground where they had been staying.

The alarm was raised late on Tuesday when they failed to return from a bushwalk as planned.

Wife and mother Joanne Ward, who journeyed out to the search site earlier today, said she felt numb while the pair was missing but always remained positive.

“I’m so happy to have them back,” she said in a statement issued by Tasmania Police this afternoon.

“I was waiting for them as soon as the chopper landed.

“They were quite calm and very relieved to have been found.

“I’d like to thank the rescue crews and the SES volunteers for their amazing work.

“I’m so grateful to them for finding my husband and my son.”

Tasmania Police Inspector George Cretu said it was a wonderful thing to see the family reunited.

“It was a planned and methodical search and has ended the best way anyone could have imagined,” he said.

“The search crews did a fantastic job.

“I’d also like to thank Pedder Wilderness Lodge for allowing us to take over part of their premises for our police forward command post.”

EARLIER: A FATHER and son are in “surprisingly good condition” after spending two nights lost in the wilderness in Tasmania’s remote South-West.

Tasmania Police Inspector George Cretu said the 42-year-old Hobart man John Ward and his 13-year-old son Stephen survived the ordeal by making a shelter.

Wife and mother Joanne Ward was briefly reunited with her family today before they were flown to Hobart for medical treatment.

Stephen Ward, 13, walks from the Westpac Rescue helicopter on the Hobart Cenotaph this afternoon. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

John Ward leaves the Westpac helicopter on a stretcher after arriving back safety in Hobart this afternoon. Pictures: RICHARD JUPE

Police said Mr Ward had mild hypothermia, while Stephen was relatively unscathed.

The Wards, who failed to return from a bushwalk late on Tuesday, were in good spirits, police said.

Mr Ward’s sister, Belinda Ward, was elated when rescuers announced the pair were safe.

“John Ward you are an idiot and a fool and stupid,” Ms Ward wrote on Facebook.

“I’m so glad you and Stephen are found. And sucked in cause mum is at your house and your (sic) in trouble lol. Love ya mate.”

The Wards were expected to arrive at the Hobart Cenotaph about 3pm today.

EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON: A FATHER and son who spent at least two cold nights lost deep in the Tasmanian wilderness have been found alive.

The Hobart pair, aged 42 and 13, were reported missing on Tuesday night after they failed to return from a Lake Pedder camping trip.

Police found their tent, car and wet weather gear at their campsite, and the walking log showed they were attempting a difficult trek that usually takes several days.

A ground and air search was launched yesterday but rescuers didn’t find the pair until today.

“The missing bushwalkers at Lake Pedder have been located alive,” Tasmania Police tweeted early this afternoon.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the weather had been cold and wet in the past 24 hours.

“Overnight they’ve been in and out of clouds with the minimum temperature about 2C in that area ... just below what we’d expect the snowline to be, but they might have had the odd quite cold shower,” the bureau’s Michael Lascow told ABC Local Radio today.

— AAP

EARLIER TODAY: THE mother of a 13-year-old boy lost in the wilderness near Lake Pedder with his father is on her way to Strathgordon as the search to find the pair intensifies.

Search co-ordinator Sergeant Chris Williams concerns for the missing father and son were growing as time went.

MORE: SEARCH RESUMES FOR FATHER AND SON

The 42-year-old man and his son have now spent two nights in the elements.

“We hold fears for anyone lost, let along a 13-year-old,” Sgt Williams said from Lake Pedder this morning.

“Mum is coming out today and we hope to have good news for her.”

Tasmania Police helicopter coming in to refuel at a helipad outside Pedder Wilderness Lodge yesterday. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

A total of 35 searchers are now on the ground, with crews taken into more remote tracts of bush by helicopter this morning.

Infra-red technology has so far failed to locate the pair.

The search area is focused on the Arthur Plains area, McKay’s track and Junction Creek — about a 15km radius on foot.

Staff members at the Pedder Wilderness Lodge — the staging post for the search — said it was very cold there this morning, about 2C, but not snowing.

Tasmania Police helicopter crews returning to Pedder Wilderness Lodge late yesterday. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

They had also heard the family of the missing pair was heading to the site as the search took on greater urgency.

The father and son had been camping at Huon Campground at Scotts Peak and were due back from a bushwalk on Tuesday afternoon.

They were reported overdue just before 8pm on Tuesday.

Authorities said the pair’s intention was to do day walks in the area, but a Parks and Wildlife Service bushwalkers’ log book on Tuesday indicated they were planning to do the Western Arthurs Traverse — which takes several days.

“We have significant concerns for their safety due to the fact they are ill-equipped for the cold and wet conditions and they have little bushwalking experience,” Sgt Williams said.

He said the pair’s tent, car and wet weather gear had been found at the Huon Campground.

“We are doing everything we can to locate the father and son as quickly as possible.”

Search co-ordinators inside the command centre at Pedder Wilderness Lodge. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN