Two New Zealanders found safe after hurricane

Brendan Clifford-Walsh

Two New Zealanders have been found safe after being caught up in Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

Missing New Zealander Brendan Clifford-Walsh, 65, has been found in Dallas and Nathan Crispin, 32, has been found safe and well in his apartment in the flooded city.

Mr Clifford-Walsh had been missing since the day before the hurricane struck.

His family in Auckland feared the worst when he made no contact.

Mr Clifford-Walsh spent some time in the Superdome after the hurricane hit before being taken to Dallas where he stayed at a hotel.

He is now believed to be headed for San Francisco and to be continuing on his year-long trip around the world.

His niece Dara Walsh said he was deeply traumatised by the horrors he faced at New Orleans' Superdome.

Another of the four New Zealanders missing in New Orleans is reported to have made contact with his family a week after the disaster.

Nathan Crispin, 32, who moved to New Orleans in March, stayed behind when his wife evacuated the city before the storm, to protect their possessions. He is now receiving food from the Red Cross.

His aunt, Auckland woman Diane Crispin, told Newstalk ZB that her nephew had not thought the storm would be as bad as it was.

She said his wife had said no one had heard from him since the hurricane struck, but subsequent reports today said Mr Crispin had now made contact with his family.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) said while the ministry had not been informed by the family that Mr Crispin had been accounted for, other reports indicated this was the case.

MFAT is still concerned about the whereabouts of three other New Zealanders, who are yet to make contact.

Foreign Affairs officials confirmed Mr Clifford-Walsh had been found in Dallas, Texas.

His family was told he was safe by the Irish Consulate in New Zealand earlier today. Mr Clifford-Walsh is believed to hold both New Zealand and Irish passports.

Mr Clifford-Walsh's daughter Melanie McCahill said today she had yet to speak to her father but they were greatly relieved.

"It's amazing. We are so relieved," she said.

She said her father had been moved out of the Superdome last Saturday and moved to Dallas where he was offered help but he was "fine".

"We couldn't have hoped for a better result."

She said over the years her father had survived many adventures around the world, including the London terror bombings earlier this year and a beating in India by a band of gurkhas.

"He's a bit like a modern day Indiana Jones."

However, she said when the family had not heard from him for so many days hope that he had survived the hurricane began to fade.

"We had a really bad couple of days but I felt really hopeful again this morning.

"We never gave up hope because it was too early, way too early.

"My biggest fear had become that he was injured and unconscious in a hospital."

Mrs McCahill said that she and her husband, former All Black Bernie McCahill, had decided she would travel to America later this week to search hospitals.

"It was needle in a haystack stuff," she said.

Mrs McCahill said the family was absolutely relieved.

"We are delighted.

"I haven't slept for days, the whole family has been devastated and worried."

Mr Clifford-Walsh is due back in New Zealand late this month.

She said while her family had received such wonderful news today, her heart went out to the people of New Orleans, particularly the families of victims.

"Those poor families looking for loved ones and lost ones is heart-wrenching, absolutely heart-wrenching.

She said the support she had received from friends and family around the country had been unbelievable.

- NZPA and NEWSTALK ZB