Three men at the centre of a sprawling search operation in remote west Arnhem Land have been found safe and well.
Maningrida man Benjamin Lee, 40, and Milingimbi men Damien Marrkululu and Isaac Ritjili, both 21, went missing early on Wednesday morning.
They were last seen leaving their vehicle at a remote river crossing between the communities of Gunbalanya and Maningrida.
Two people they travelled with were later picked up but the three men were nowhere to be found, prompting a large-scale search involving a dozen Aboriginal rangers, local police and two helicopters.
NT Police said the men made their way to Maningrida late yesterday and appeared to be in good health with no injuries.
Ingrid Stonhill from the Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation, whose rangers took part in the search, said locals found the men a long way from the community.
She said they were then assessed at the local clinic.
"I saw outside the medical centre, so many people who were obviously very relieved family members," she said.
"We have a really tight community here, so when something like this happens from here or surrounding communities, people are related, and you know, they feel it.
"We are really relieved that they were found alive and well but probably feeling the effects of three days in the bush."
She thanked everyone involved in the search operation, including the rangers, who she said had incredible knowledge of the terrain.
Ms Stonhill also reminded people to stay with their vehicles if they got lost in remote areas, especially as the weather heats up.
"The biggest message that we give to anybody coming out here is never leave your vehicle," she said.
"Because there are people that will stop beside a vehicle to make sure that you're OK, but if you leave your vehicle we can't find you."
