The police Air Wing has located a woman who was missing for five days in dense bushland at Bright.
The 48-year-old went on a holiday to Bright last week and when she didn’t make her daily call to check in with loved ones on 30 April, they raised the alarm.
Emergency services carried out extensive searches of the Mitta Mitta, Wodonga, Bright and Albury areas over the past week however were unable to find any sign of Lillian.
Yesterday afternoon the police Air Wing were conducting a sweep of the hilly terrain when they spotted Lillian’s car at the end of a dirt road in the Mitta Mitta bushland.
A local police van was directed by the helicopter to her location where she was located safe and well.
It’s understood Lillian was attempting to drive to Dartmouth Dam when she hit a dead-end road at the end of Yankee Point Track and realised she had taken a wrong turn.
While trying to turn around and backtrack, the Cheltenham woman’s car became bogged in mud and without mobile coverage she wasn’t able to call for help.
Lillian was taken to hospital for observation and to be treated for dehydration.
Quotes attributed to Wodonga Police Station Sergeant Martin Torpey:
“Lillian was found a good 60km away from the nearest town and due to health issues she was unable to try and walk for help so stayed with her car,” he said.
“She used great common sense to stay with her car and not wander off into bushland, which assisted in police being able to find her.
“She was only planning a short-day trip so had only taken a couple of snacks and lollies with her but no water.
“The only liquid Lillian, who doesn’t drink, had with her was a bottle of wine she had bought as a gift for her mother so that got her through.
“While she couldn’t move her car, she was able to use the heater overnight give her some warmth.
“After being lost in the bush for five days, she was extremely relieved and grateful to see us and we were just as happy to see her.”
