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Helicopter spots missing woman with her arms up in Australian wilderness
The woman had been reported missing by her family.
Jaclyn Abergas
05.24.23

48-year-old Lillian was on the way to Bright from Cheltenham in Victoria, Australia to visit her mother when she got into trouble.

She was on her way to her mother’s house for a short vacation when she took a wrong turn.

YouTube Screenshot - ABC7
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - ABC7

Lilian had hit a dead-end point at the end of Yankee Point Track.

That’s when she realized she made a wrong turn a few miles back.

When she tried to turn around though, she discovered that her car got stuck in the mud.

She tried to call for help, but unfortunately, there was no cell service in the area.

“Lillian was found a good 60 kilometers away from the nearest town, and due to health issues, she was unable to try and walk for help, so stayed with her car,” Wodonga Police Station Sergeant Martin Torpey said.

It turned out this worked better for her situation.

YouTube Screenshot - ABC7
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - ABC7

“She used great common sense to stay with her car and not wander off into bushland, which assisted in [the] police being able to find her,” Sgt. Torpey continued.

YouTube Screenshot - ABC7
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - ABC7

The only problem is she didn’t have a lot of provisions in her car.

It was only supposed to be a four-hour drive so she only brought a few snacks and lollipops with her.

She didn’t even bring water because the drive was supposed to be just a few hours.

The only drink she had with her was a bottle of wine for her mother.

Candy and wine saved this lady trapped in the wilderness.

YouTube Screenshot - ABC7
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - ABC7

Lilian didn’t drink but desperate times call for desperate measures.

Fortunately, the wine and lollipops played a major part in her survival.

Her car wasn’t dead as well and she was still able to use it for her survival.

“While she couldn’t move her car, she was able to use the heater overnight to give her some warmth,” Sgt. Torpey added.

YouTube Screenshot - ABC7
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - ABC7

There’s one more thing that led to her being found. Or should we say, habit?

Lilian always called her family every day to check in with them.

When she didn’t call, her family became concerned and called the authorities.

Emergency services quickly responded and searched for her in Mitta Mitta, Wodonga, Bright, and Albury, which are around 200 miles northeast of Melbourne.

YouTube Screenshot - ABC7
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - ABC7

Unfortunately, they didn’t find Lilian in these places.

Luckily, the Air Wing from Wodonga Police searched the areas from up above and found her.

They found her car first at the Mitta Mitta bushland and eventually spotted her.

They sent a car to rescue her and sent her to the nearest hospital for evaluation and to treat her dehydration.

YouTube Screenshot - ABC7
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - ABC7

“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,” the police said.

After that ordeal, it’s a good thing dehydration, a treatable and manageable effect, was her biggest problem.

YouTube Screenshot - ABC7
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - ABC7

Watch Lilian be rescued by emergency services in the video below.

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