Emergency services said the men, aged 34 and 65, were camping in the area and strayed off a track while on a day hike near Helicopter Spur in the Upper Howqua Valley on Sunday.

“We located them quite quickly through the EPIRB signal but there were large trees all around them so it was challenging to winch down to them,” intensive care flight paramedic Wayne Gardam said.

“I was winched down 60 metres to get to an area near where the men set up for the night and lit a fire to keep warm.

“The men were well prepared and even had a survival whistle which they were blowing to help guide me in to their location.”

The men were not injured and walked from the bush but the 65-year-old was then flown to the air ambulance base at Essendon because he was suffering from fatigue.