A Hobart father and son missing in the Lake Pedder area have been found after a two-day air and land search, Tasmania Police say.
The pair constructed a makeshift shelter out of shrubs and ate food they had found that was left behind by other bush walkers.
John Ward (42) and Stephen Ward (13) were found by a ground search party at about 1pm today near Nine Mile Creek about 15km from the Huon camp ground and were in good health.
After a brief touch down at the police forward command post at Pedder Wilderness Lodge they were taken by helicopter to hospital for assessment.
John Ward was treated for mild hypothermia by Tasmania Ambulance officers in the back of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter. Stephen wasn’t believed to be suffering from hypothermia and was in good spirits.
Joanne Ward described herself as feeling "numb" throughout the waiting but always remained positive that they would be found safe and well.
"I’m so happy to have them back," she said.
"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."
Inspector George Cretu said:
"This is the best possible result. It really is a wonderful thing to see the family reunited after their ordeal.
"The search crews did a fantastic job.
"It was a planned and methodical search and has ended the best way anyone could have imagined.
"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."
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