A French skier missing for more than a day in steep mountainous terrain near Wanaka has been found.
Tom Gratadour (18) was reported missing by his flatmate on Wednesday after he failed to arrive back at the flat on Tuesday night.
He was last seen leaving his car at the West Wanaka Station carpark on Monday morning.
He was found this afternoon by Wanaka LandSAR volunteers after an aerial and and ground search on Mt Alta.
Police said they were concerned after Mr Gratadour, the world junior freestyle champion, had failed to return as scheduled yesterday from a solo back-country ski touring trip.
Wanaka Police search and rescue coordinator Sergeant Aaron Nicholson said they were "delighted" to have found Mr Gratadour safe and uninjured.
"With the weather deteriorating rapidly and more snow expected tonight, it could well have been a different outcome."
Police said a helicopter search found ski touring tracks above the Minaret Burn and he was located walking out back to his car.
“This is a good outcome, but we would want to emphasise that if you’re going into the back country we would strongly urge you to carry a personal locator beacon, ” Sgt Nicholson said.
