An Auckland family's thanking the kind stranger who stopped traffic to catch their pet guinea pig

Patches had been missing for 10 days, and his sister Poseidon for nearly two, before the Snow family discovered what had happened to them.

Turns out, the pair had hitched a ride underneath the family car.

Auckland Airport CCTV footage shows how Patches was flung from his hiding place - and how he made it across four lanes of traffic before being caught by a taxi driver.

Kate Snow says they're amazed the driver stopped to help - and grateful to him and others who stopped to help.

She says there would've been quite the kerfuffle for motorists travelling to the airport that day.

Patches and his sister, who was also hiding underneath the car, are both doing well - and getting lots of cuddles.