Woman found alive in New Zealand wilderness a month after partner fell to his death

The victim survived freezing conditions, but is distraught from the ordeal

Weeks went by before anyone searched for the couple after they got lost on the South Island mountain (Zoharby)

A woman survived a harrowing month alone in the frozen New Zealand wilderness after her partner fell to his death down a snowy mountain.

The tourist, from the Czech Republic, was found living in a park warden’s hut on the Routeburn Track, a world-renowned 32km bush-walking route that normally takes three days to complete.

After setting off on 26 July, police said the young couple got lost because track markers were buried in the snow.

Two days into their ordeal, the man fell down a steep slope and died.

The woman then spent the next three nights living outside in freezing conditions before stumbling upon the hut and breaking in, police inspector Olaf Jensen said.

"Given her experience and the avalanche risk, she decided it was best for her safety to remain in the hut, and that was the correct decision to make," Mr Jensen said.

He said the woman fashioned a letter "H" in the snow outside to signal that she needed help but hikers were avoiding the hazardous route and nobody came.

"It was not passable," the inspector said. "It was really extreme conditions."

The Czech consulate finally raised the alarm on Wednesday and the woman was found later that day.

Police found the couple’s car at the start of the trail and sent a helicopter along the route.

Mr Olaf said the woman was relieved to see her rescuers after her traumatic experience.

"It’s very unusual for someone to be missing in the New Zealand bush for such a long period without it being reported," he added.

There was a radio in the hut but the woman couldn’t get it to work.

Geoff Owen, the Wakatipu-area operations manager for the Department of Conservation, said the Lake Mackenzie Hut where the woman stayed had firewood and may have had some food left behind by the rangers. He said the woman may also have broken into another hut nearby to find more food.

The Routeburn Track, on the South Island is very popular with tourists during the Southern Hemisphere summer. But during the winter months, from June until August, it can become treacherous.

When there is deep snow, it is typically only tackled by climbers equipped with crampons and ice axes.

Mr Jensen said the couple were reasonably well equipped for a hike but not for the conditions they encountered.

The woman was admitted to a local hospital with some frostbite, hypothermia and other minor injuries but was found to be in reasonable physical health given the circumstances. She was, however, greatly upset by her ordeal, police said.

Authorities said they plan to try and recover the body of the man, also from the Czech Republic, later Thursday.

Additional reporting by AP