An Australian woman who went missing for five days in the wilderness managed to survive on just a bottle of wine and candy.
The 48-year-old woman, who police identified as“Lillian Ip, had been heading to Victoria State for a short trip on Sunday April 30.
But after she took a wrong turn into a dead end, her vehicle ended up stuck in the mud.
Due to a lack of reception and health issues, Ip wasn’t able to call for help or walk to the nearest town and chose to stay with her car.
Lilian’s family reported her missing after she didn’t make her daily check-in call the same day.
Having only planned a day trip, Lilian had a few snacks including some candy and a bottle of wine – which was intended as a gift for her mother – in her car.
Ip – who doesn’t drink – lived off the bottle of wine and candy for five days.
Her car’s heating system also helped her survive low temperatures at night.
Police finally spotted her by helicopter and rescued her on May 5.
“Lillian was found a good 60 kilometers away from the nearest town,” police 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.”
“I thought I was going to die there. My whole body shut down on Friday,” Ip told 9News Australia, adding that she “was about to give up”.
Ip said her first thoughts were “water and cigarettes” upon being rescued.
“Thank god the policewoman had a cigarette,” she said.
Ip was treated for dehydration in a nearby hospital after being rescued.
When asked how the wine tased, she simply said, “Shit.”
