The mother of Upper Hutt teen Maia Johnston – who was missing for two days – says her daughter has a long recovery ahead after falling at a waterfall.
The 19-year-old went missing on Saturday night and was last seen leaving a family home in the suburb of Totara Park during heavy rain.
She was found injured with a broken leg and ribs, but alive, early on Monday in the hills above Upper Hutt.
Family members and friends embraced Johnston as she was carried out of the bush by search and rescue, and loaded into an ambulance.
She was taken to hospital and treated for her broken bones and a split lip.
Posting on social media, Johnston’s mother Amy Walsh said her daughter had “a long recovery ahead”.
“She’s in her first of many surgeries now and will be in hospital for several weeks.
“Thank you again to each and every person who supported us in getting her back.”
Walsh went on to detail how her daughter came to have several broken bones.
“She has fought like a trooper for 42 hours alone after falling at a waterfall and getting some quite bad injuries…
“[It’s] thankfully nothing that can’t be fixed. One day at a time.”
Police thanked the Upper Hutt community for the way they rallied around search staff and the family.
Rescue coordinator Penny Clash said it was the best outcome after a mammoth effort to find Maia.
“The Totara Park team, the people, the community have just rallied together and it just shows what an awesome community Totara Park is.
“It’s quite a close-knit community and this really showed it.”
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