Four fishermen who spent four days walking in inhospitable bush after their boats became stranded off the Northern Territory coast have been rescued suffering only blistered feet and minor cuts.
The men were discovered about 15km southwest of their boats, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, on Saturday morning after walkingin search of help.
CareFlight stated they had to winch two of the men to safety, while another aircraft collected the remaining two men.
The recreational fishermen had set off from Bing Bong Creek, 1000km southwest of Darwin, on March 26 and were due to return on Wednesday, police said.
They were reported missing on Thursday, prompting an aerial search on Good Friday which located their two boats on a beach about 22km northwest of the Bing Bong Port facility.
A campsite was also found nearby and although it was deserted, it showed signs of recent activity.
Police and rescue teams worked through Friday night, planning an extensive search of the area which resumed at first light on Saturday.
"Extensive planning, briefing and preparations conducted throughout the night for today's search, have contributed to these men being located," Senior Sergeant Stephen Martin, of the Marine and Fisheries Section, said in a statement on Saturday.
Police, sea rangers and locals conducted water and land checks, aided by an air search and the Rescue Coordination Centre in Canberra. They discovered the missing men 65km northwest of Borroloola.
Care Flight evacuated the men to Borroloola, where they were treated for minor injuries at the local health clinic.
Sgt Martin said local professional fishermen had helped search for the four men after they failed to return from their fishing and crabbing trip.
"(This) has allowed for a diligent and widespread search and rescues of the region," he said.
Initial reports indicated five fishermen were missing, but one of the reported group, a resident of Tennant Creek, did not join the party when it took off earlier in the week, police said.
