Missing Queensland family found alive deep in NSW outback
A Queensland family has been found alive after disappearing deep in the NSW outback during a long-distance trip across three states.
Darian Aspinall, 27, was travelling with her children Winter Bellamy, two, and Koda Bellamy, four, and the kid's grandmother, 50-year-old Leah Gooding from Queensland to Adelaide where they were moving.
The family was found in their car off-track 50 kilometres south east of Tibooburra, in the far north-west of NSW.
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Darian Aspinall was travelling with her children and their grandmother when they went missing in the NSW outback. NSW Police Force
Police confirmed the family was sighted by a helicopter in the remote area.
"The helicopter landed, and confirmed it was the Hyundai Tucson, with the four occupants located safe and well inside the vehicle," NSW Police said in a statement.
The children's father, Lynford Bellamy, had been travelling ahead of his family with their furniture and belongings in a truck.
He is elated that his family has been found.
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The children's father is elated his family has been found safe and well. 9News
"It was the best phone call I've ever had in my life after two days of horror and not knowing what to do," he said.
"It's the result we wanted."
Detective Inspector Tom Aylett said it was a relief for emergency services to have a positive outcome.
"It is a rugged and remote area and to be without food or water for two days, we're lucky it's a positive outcome," he said.
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Detective Inspector Tom Aylett said it is a positive result to find the family. 9News
They are currently being checked over by a paramedic who was on board the helicopter before they are airlifted to hospital.
The family was reported missing when they didn't arrive at accommodation in Packsaddle and couldn't be contacted, sparking a police investigation.
Aylett said GPS systems sometimes take drivers on "routes that aren't accessible even though they're on the map".
A major police search was carried out across Tibooburra, Broken Hill, Wilcannia, Packsaddle and surrounds.
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