A 66-year-old man who had been missing in the rugged backcountry of New Zealand for over two weeks has now been found, even though rescue officials called off the search three days ago.

Graham Garnett was discovered alive yesterday sheltering in a hut in the Kahurangi National Park by a crew of contractors who were working in the area.

He’d gone hiking in the Baton/Ellis River area of the park and did not return as expected on December 30.

An operation got underway involving Land Search and Rescue New Zealand and specialist teams from the New Zealand Defense Force, the Rescue Coordination Centre, along with many volunteers and supporters. But no progress was made.

On January 15, the operations team made the difficult decision to call off the search, until any new information might came to light.

“This is an amazing result,” said a statement by the Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast Police. “We are so pleased for Graham and his loved ones.”

Kahurangi National Park on the South Island of New Zealand covers 2,005 square-miles (5,193 km2) of mountains, rivers, gorges.

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Rescuers took Mr. Garnett to Nelson Hospital where he was reunited with his family.

“Obviously he has been through quite an ordeal and everyone involved in the search is delighted to hear that Graham has been found alive.”

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