A Perth family of four who spent five nights in the South Australian outback after their truck became bogged have opened up about the "rollercoaster" ordeal.
The Zavros family today touched down in Adelaide after spending their first night in civilisation in Coober Pedy.
Ori Zavros, wife Lindsey and children Zane and Zoe had to be winched from their location near Oodnadatta, in the far north of the state, by helicopter yesterday.
From there they were flown to safety.
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Speaking to reporters from Coober Pedy this morning, Mr Zavros said the family were "emotionally exhausted" but otherwise okay.
"Once the truck started to sink down in the mud I knew we were in trouble," he said.
"Lindsey still had hope we could dig it out."
Ms Zavros said the first night was terrifying as a wild storm lashed the desert.
"It was the worst storm we ever had.
"We thought the roof might blow off."
The family had been travelling around the country in a customised camper van when the vehicle became stuck.
They had set out from Birdsville in Queensland on Monday, November 8, to make their way through a remote national park near the Northern Territory border.
Despite the ordeal, they said they will go on more road trips in the future.
It took four hours for a maritime safety plane sent from Melbourne to find the family and drop a care package after they activated an emergency beacon.
The package included essentials like a satellite phone to call home.
Originally it was believed the rescue could take as long as two weeks as police waited for flooded roads to clear.
However, yesterday morning South Australian police sent a helicopter to collect the Zavros family, ahead of rising temperatures in the region.
The long journey to collect the young family began around 8am when the helicopter left Adelaide Airport.
It had to make quick fuel stops at Port Augusta and two other spots before arriving at the Zavros family's location near the Northern Territory border.
From there, the family were winched to safety and brought to Coober Pedy where they were given cool drinks and ice blocks.