BRISBANE — A solo hiker, who had been missing in the Snowy Mountains of Australia, was discovered in a state of confusion and injury on Sunday, according to local police. The woman had reportedly been lost for almost two weeks, during which she suffered a suspected snake bite.
The woman, identified as 48-year-old Lovisa Sjoberg, was found by rescue teams as she was wandering along a bush trail in Kosciuszko National Park, located southwest of Canberra, on Sunday afternoon.
Superintendent Toby Lindsay of the New South Wales Police stated on Monday that Sjoberg was “lucky to be alive” after being bitten by a snake, possibly a copperhead. This venomous species can inflict a painful bite that can be fatal without immediate medical intervention.
“She reported that she was bitten by a snake about four days ago and had also sprained her ankle and was suffering from dehydration,” Lindsay said. “She’s indeed very lucky to be alive after enduring such a challenging ordeal.”
The exact duration of Sjoberg’s disappearance in the wilderness remains unknown — her last known sighting was when she was driving a rented car on Oct. 15.
The police began their investigation into her whereabouts only last Monday when the car rental company reported that their vehicle had not been returned.
The police traced the car to Kiandra, a former gold mining town near the mountains, and speculated that Sjoberg, a passionate photographer and seasoned hiker, had lost her way in the wilderness after setting off on foot.
For six days, the police deployed helicopters, planes, and search teams on foot, road, and horseback before finally locating her on Sunday.
The northern section of Kosciuszko National Park recently reopened to the public after its annual winter closure. The park had been shut down two months earlier this year to facilitate aerial culling of deer, pigs, and wild horses, known as brumbies, in a bid to safeguard its alpine environment.
Sjoberg maintains an Instagram account where she posts pictures of wild horses, and members of brumby advocacy groups expressed grave concern for her safety on social media.
Earlier this year, a legal attempt to halt the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service’s plan to cull brumbies from helicopters was unsuccessful.
The government justified the cull as a necessary measure to protect the native flora and fauna in the alpine wilderness, which are at risk from the large population of feral animals.
The Snowy Mountains form part of the Great Dividing Range, a mountainous region stretching over 2,300 miles and home to some of Australia’s highest peaks. This region is a favorite among hikers and skiers who frequent nearby resorts during the annual ski season.
Disagree – She should have taken more precautions before venturing into that dangerous area.
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