Missing Australian Woman Rescued After Six Days in Snowy Mountains

An avid photographer, Lovisa Sjoberg, 48, went missing during a photography trip, leading to a considerable search effort by authorities.

A woman missing for six days in Australia's Snowy Mountains has been successfully rescued by emergency responders on Sunday afternoon. Lovisa Sjoberg, 48, was discovered "dazed and injured," suffering from a suspected snake bite, dehydration, and a rolled ankle, prompting immediate medical attention.

Sjoberg had ventured into Kosciuszko National Park to capture photographs, a location familiar to her as a regular visitor. Concerns about her wellbeing arose when a rental car company reported her vehicle unreturned and her inability to be reached. Authorities found her car abandoned and unlocked, igniting a full-scale search operation initiated by New South Wales (NSW) Police on October 21.

Search efforts involved sniffer dogs, firefighters, park rangers, and a helicopter equipped with infra-red technology to sweep the terrain. The situation escalated as temperatures around Kosciuszko National Park dropped to freezing at night, prompting heightened fears due to the failure of rescue teams to locate her during the initial days.

Officials confirmed Sjoberg was found on the Nungar Creek Trail at Kiandra by a National Parks and Wildlife Service officer. NSW Police Superintendent Toby Lindsay stated that she had been "wandering [for] days" through difficult bushland. Sjoberg recounted to rescuers that she suffered a bite from a copperhead snake around four days prior. Although typically not aggressive, the copperhead's venom poses serious health risks that require timely medical attention.

Supt Lindsay remarked on her survival, stating, “She’s in fact very fortunate to be alive... she obviously went through a tough time." Following her rescue, Sjoberg received treatment at the scene before being taken to a hospital, where she remains in stable condition and is reportedly "happy to be alive."