Charlie Carmichael-
A woman who was stranded in the Australian bush for five days survived by eating sweets and drinking a bottle of wine.
Lillian Ip(pictured left embracing her mother) went missing after setting off on holiday and driving through dense bushland in Victoria state.
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The 48-year-old was stuck after realising she had taken a wrong turn, but while trying to turn around her car became bogged in mud.
Ms Ip – who does not drink – only had a bottle of wine which she had planned to give as a present and some sweets. She was forced to manage on the wine.
She was taken to hospital and treated for dehydration.
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“First thing that came to mind was water and a cigarette,” she told 9News. “Thank God (for) the policewoman, she had a cigarette.”
Asked how the wine tasted, she swore and added: “I thought I was going to die out there. My whole body shut down on Friday.”
Fearing she was not going to survive, she wrote a letter to her family telling them she loved them and to not cry for her.
Alcoholic beverages are initially dehydrating, because they cause your body to excrete more water than it provides. But as you become dehydrated the balance shifts, and you can live off the water in wine (or better beer)
She was found around 60km away from the nearest town and due to health issues was unable to walk for help so stayed with her car, Victoria Police said.
Wodonga Police Station Sergeant Martin Torpey 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.
“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.
“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.”
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