mild weather kept them alive for four nights. not the normal cold wet and windy weather for this time of year.
they left no trip intentions with anyone. they were lucky the road end they left their car at had people living near by and a resident reported the car to the police, otherwise they wouldnt have known where to start searching.
no map, compass or navigation device, no emergency shelter no PLB..
for some reason they were dehydrated despite camping next to a stream.
most rescues recently have involved a large element of good fortune and luck that enabled people to be found and survive,
such as people having cell phone coverage. in this scenario there was no cell phone coverage, and that was one reason the search didnt start till three days after they were overdue and didnt find them for another day...
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/7946638 ... rth-island
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/artic ... d=11631593