Two UWSP Students Rescued Nine Days After Being Trapped in New Zealand Snowstorm

Students Survive in Bush

Students Survive Ordeal in New Zealand

Alec Brown and Erica Klintworth of Neenah are studying abroad in New Zealand. The 21-year-olds are UW-Stevens Point students. They told friends they wanted to relax in the hot springs of the National Park and study for finals, but rain and snow trapped the students in the wilderness for days.

"We were wearing hoodies, just not the type of thing you want to have stuck in a mountain storm," says Erica Klintworth. To survive, Brown and Klintworth rationed their supplies, eating only one biscuit and jelly a day. They also warmed themselves up in hot springs and slept in a hammock. Alec's brother, Ian, says he and his mother got word they were found on Sunday.

"Clearly we were pretty comfortable where we were and survived it no problem. We had all the right gear to get through it, we had clean, fresh water and stayed warm and dry," says Klintworth.

Crews used helicopters to search for the couple, but they managed to make it out of the wilderness on Sunday when they were able to hike over a river to safety. "I didn't realize how serious it was, she was really worried," says Ian Brown.

CBS and WCCO-TV contributed to this report.