POLICE said two young boys who disappeared and sparked a major air and land search near Tamworth have been spoken too, after they were found safe and well on Tuesday morning.
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The boys, aged 13, were reported missing on Monday after wandering from their family property into bushland at Bendemeer.
Police were alerted and a massive search was mounted involving local officers, the State Emergency Service (SES), the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, along with dozens of locals.
The rescue helicopter crew used night vision goggles in a bid to track them from the air but were unable to find them.
The appeal to find the pair also went viral online as nearby residents joined the search in on and around the rural property, as the temperatures nudged zero at Bendemeer on Monday night.
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The rescue effort was mounted again early on Tuesday morning before the pair were found safe and well, shortly after 7.30am.
It's understood they went on an unplanned camping trip in the bush and returned on Tuesday morning to concerned family members.
They've been spoken to by police after sparking the major rescue effort.
Meanwhile, earlier on Monday, the Westpac helicopter was tasked to collect a woman with serious head injuries in Tamworth.
The 76-year-old was stabilised at Tamworth hospital before being flown to Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital.
The rescue service said a critical care paramedic and doctor were also on board the flight to care for the seriously injured patient.
