Trapped Milford tourists make it out safely

Wednesday, 5 February 2020

Sue and Allen Coudle from Bent, Oregon, make it out of the Milford Sound after being trapped for three days.

It was a wedding anniversary not to forget for a Mosgiel couple stuck in Milford Sound for the past three days.

Tony and Lyn Chapman were among 195 tourists forced to stay at Milford Sound for three days after slips blocked the only road out following heavy rains.

Tony and Lyn Chapman, of Mosgiel, were among the first lot of trapped tourists out of Milford Sound. They had been stuck for three days.

With the weather clearing on Wednesday the tourists were being helicoptered to Knobs Flat before being bused to the Fiordland Community Centre to meet Emergency Management welfare staff.

* Trapped tourists to remain at Milford Sound as weather hampers rescue effort

* From mountaintops to the deep sea in Milford Sound**

Unlike Tuesday's mass evacuation of trampers in Fiordland, where many were, wet, cold and in shock after enduring harrowing conditions in bush huts and on tracks, the tourists at Milford Sound being evacuated on Wednesday have been staying in comfortable accommodation and on boats at Milford Sound.

Tony and Lyn Chapman went on a night cruise on the Fiordland Jewel on Sunday night, a 45th wedding anniversary present from their children.

However, instead of one night they stayed three on the boat when unable to leave Milford.

'We were the lucky ones, we had the governor's suite, we had an onboard chef, exquisite food, lovely company,' they said.

Lots of wine was drunk,many stories told and cards played among the13 tourists on the boat.

'It's just our car we have lost,' Tony said.

They would retrieve it when Milford Road was repaired and reopened in coming weeks.

Also helicoptered out on Wednesday was Sue and Allen Coudle from Bent, Oregon.

They spent three days instead of one on the Fiordland Discovery.

The rain was horizontal but they were also comfortable in their vessel, they said

The Milford Sound terminal took in water and there would have been 'extensive damage', Allen Coudle said.

Real Journeys risk manager Brenden Winder, who is coordinating the evacuation on Wednesday, said the tourists had been accommodated in lodges and on board cruise vessels in Milford harbour for the past three days.

All had been well catered for and morale was high amongst the tourists and Milford business staff, he said.

They had received regular updates and had been in contact with friends and family.

With the weather clearing on Wednesday, the evacuation began at first light.

Helicopters were flying the tourists from Milford Sound to Knobs Flat, where they were hopping on buses and being taken to the Fiordland Community Centre in Te Anau to meet Emergency Management welfare staff.