Parents stranded in Simpson Desert outback speak out after dramatic helicopter rescue

The family of four who spent days stranded in the Simpson Desert have revealed they’re “thankful” the ordeal is finally over.

Orios and Lindsey Zavros, along with their two young children Zane and Zoe, were winched to safety by a police chopper sent to Oodnadatta in South Australia’s remote north on Tuesday evening.

Moments after touching down in Coober Pedy, the couple told the ABC they finally “feel safe now”.

“It’s been emotional, a bit of a rollercoaster but we got through it,” Mr Zavros said.

The family, from Perth, feared they could be stranded with minimal supplies for weeks as temperatures soared above 40 degrees.

“We were concerned that we might have got stuck there for a few weeks, worried about the heat,” he said.

Dramatic footage showed the family being rescued by helicopter after days spent stranded with their bogged campervan.

In the clips, the family were dropped food packages before being rescued and flown to Coober Pedy.

Police were told a Mitsubishi Canter 4WD vehicle had become bogged near Oodnadatta on Friday morning.

Supplies were dropped to the family and the couple were in regular contact with police during the ordeal.

The family had been travelling around Australia since November 2020 and were on the final leg of their trip before heading home to Perth for Christmas.