Hikers Trevor Salvado and Jacinta Bohan, who spent four nights missing in the Victorian alpine region, have described their ordeal - telling reporters they were always confident they'd be found.
The avid hikers became lost only a couple of hours into their day-trip and became stranded on a rock ledge.
The pair were located at around 11.10am on Tuesday, after spending four nights in bushland near Buffalo River.
"We basically got lost, that's all that happened," Ms Bohan told reporters after the pair underwent a mandatory check up at Wangaratta hospital.
"And then we stayed in one spot for four nights and this morning we were out - we needed to get out."
Trevor Salvado and Jacinta Bohan are seen outside of Wangaratta hospital in Victoria. Source: AAP Image/Simon Dallinger
Their survival has been attributed to their outdoor experience and knowledge- along with a small water source and muesli bars.
"You'd be generous to call it a river," Mr Salvado said of the water supply that helped them.
"It was a trickle of water - but water was the important thing to keep as healthy and alive so that's where we stayed."
But on the fifth day, the couple ran out of supplies and said they knew they had to move their position.
"We could hear the choppers...we were in a good spot, we were in a safe spot so I really believed that we would get found," Ms Bohan said.
"But we knew we had to think about our mindset and we just knew if we stayed too much longer and they haven't found us - oh my god - so we thought today, we've got the energy - lets go."
By luck, the pair found a track which led out of the bush.
"Where we were staying for the three days, we could hear speed boats on Lake Buffalo, there were campers down below us, there were cows, there was a dog and there were lights as well. So we knew we weren't far away from people and help but we had about a 250 foot drop in front of us," Mr Salvado said.
The pair said they always felt confident that they would be found.
The pair speak with the media, flanked by family. Source: SBS News
"We were sensible, we kept calm, we kept rational and that's what helped us out," Mr Salvado said.
"It was when we walked out of the bush and found the track we were aiming for, that's when we thought, 'yep we're home'."
They were last seen by friends at a Cherry Lane caravan park in Bright on March 8 and were expected to return from their bushwalk at Reservoir Track on Mount Buffalo at about 12.30pm on the same day but did not return.
Their car was located near Reservoir Track on Mount Buffalo on Saturday.
Essendon couple Trevor Salvado, 60, and Jacinda Bohan, 58. Source: AAP
When asked what it was like being lost, Mr Salvado had just one word.
"Serenity."
Ms Bohan agreed.
"The outdoors are beautiful and we hopefully won't do that [get lost] again - [but] that was one of those random moments."
Search effort
Victoria Police have for their ongoing support during this search.
Critical Response Team Senior Sergeant Damien Peppler said the successful search was a fantastic result.
"They've been really lucky and if it wasn't due to their knowledge and their skills out in the bush, they would have found it much more difficult, Sgt Peppler told reporters.
"I have spoken to the police that have picked them up and they couldn't be happier with their actions that they've taken that have saved their lives on this occasion."
A team of 150 searchers involving Country Fire Association volunteers, police, SES, bush search and rescue crews and search dogs were involved in the effort to find the pair.
"They've done a fantastic job and you can see the looks on their faces - they are elated by the result," Sgt Peppler said.
Trevor Salvado and Jacinda Bohan have been found alive and well. Source: Victoria Police
Jacinta Bohan's sister, Maria Bohan said the family was relieved the pair had been found safe and well.
"I'm lost for words now, but when we heard [the news] you should have heard me shouting," she told the media.
"We are incredibly relieved - especially because last night, the fourth night, most of us were awake even though the police told us to think positive, we were thinking dark thoughts."
Maria Bohan said her sister Jacinta, who also goes by Cindy, was one of nine children and the family all gathered with the couple's children during the ordeal.
But she jokingly suggested the couple shouldn't wander too far next time they headed out bush.
"We've all made an incredible list of rules that Cindy and Trevor are going to have to follow for the rest of their lives," she said.
"Cindy and Trevor are outdoor people, bush walking people. Someone told us, they sat on a big rock for two days...but this morning they decided to walk somewhere else [to where they were found]."
