TWO girls from Oxford have been airlifted to safety after they were trapped in New Zealand following the devastating earthquake on Monday night.

Bethan Morris and Connie Kelly, from Marston, were terrfied when the disaster struck the town of Kaikoura where they were staying.

But Miss Morris's father Alistair Morris said thanks to being 'in the right place at the right time' the girls luckily caught the last helicopter out of Auckland last night.

He said: "They managed to get the last flight out last night and were told it was the very last helicopter.

"They were so lucky that they happened to be in the right place at the right time because they have apparently suspended further flights because of the worsening weather they are due to have.

"They were both just so relieved and of course I am also relieved."

Speaking with the Oxford Mail Mr Morris described the fear the pair felt as the quake struck and afterwards finding out they were trapped in the most devastated town.

The earthquake destroyed the only two roads out of Kaikoura and helicopters were brought in to take the 3,600 population to safety.

Mr Morris added: "It just so happened that they were in the right place at the right time.

"They could have been anywhere but luckily they went to a community centre and hadnt even unpacked when somebody came in to get people onto the helicopter."

The pair have now been flown to Christchurch and planning their next move to hopefully continue their travels.