A Ukrainian tourist couple reported missing while venturing into the jungle of the Nopparatthara-Phi-Phi Islands national park in the southern province of Krabi on Sunday were found and rescued by park officials early this morning.

The park chief,  Worapot Lomlim, said forest rangers at Tap Khaek unit were alerted that two Ukranian tourists went into Ngon Nark mountain in Tambon Nong Thalay, Muang district, on Sunday morning and failed to return to their resort.

Staff at the resort were concerned that the couple might have lost their way in the jungle,e so they alerted rangers at Tap Khaek.

Worapot said that a search team was then mobilized and dispatched to Ngon Nark mountain to carry out the search by following the jungle trail where the couple was believed to have used.

After about eight hours of search in darkness, the search team, with the help of torch lights finally found the couple and escorted them back to the Tap Khaek unit at about 4 am today.

The couple who were in good shape reportedly said they veered out of the course designated by park officials by following the direction shown in the GPS.  They were warned by the officials before they were allowed to return to their resort.

Park officials explained that tourists who ventured into the jungle must have a guide if they wanted to go beyond the 3.7 kilometre distance limit.