A 48-year-old woman named Lillian Ip from has managed to survive five days stranded in the bush by consuming sweets and a single bottle of wine. Lillian had embarked on a short trip through dense bush in Victoria state when she took a wrong turn, leading her vehicle to get stuck in the mud.
Despite not being a drinker, Lillian had a bottle of wine in her car, intending to give it as a gift. With no other provisions, she relied on the sweets and snacks she had with her. She had no access to water during her ordeal.
After five nights of being stranded, emergency services discovered Lillian on Friday during an aerial search. Lillian expressed her immediate needs upon being found, mentioning that she craved water and a cigarette, the latter of which was provided by a policewoman.
Lillian had lost hope of being rescued and even wrote a letter to her family expressing her love for them. She was found approximately 60 kilometers (37 miles) away from the nearest town. Due to health issues, she was unable to walk far and decided to remain near her car throughout her ordeal.
Her decision to stay with the vehicle and not venture into the bushland played a crucial role in aiding the police in locating her. The Wodonga Police Station Sergeant, Martin Torpey, praised her wise decision, stating that it contributed to her rescue.
Following her rescue, Lillian was taken to the hospital to receive treatment for dehydration. Fortunately, she has since returned home to Melbourne.