Woman stranded in Australian bush survives by drinking wine for five days

Lillian Ip’s life was saved by a bottle of wine (Picture: Victoria Police)

A woman who was lost and alone in the wilderness for five days survive on a bottle of wine and some lollipops.

Lillian Ip became stranded in dense Australian bushland, in Victoria, when her car got stuck in the mud after taking a wrong turn.

The 48-year-old, who was only meant to be venturing out for a short trip on April 30, tried to make a phone call to get help but could not get any signal.

She was 37 miles away from the nearest town with no water and was not able to walk far due to health issues.

Ms Ip, who does not drink alcohol, only had a bottle of wine with her that she had bought as a gift for her mother, as well as a few snacks and lollies.

But it was that bottle of wine that would ultimately save her life.

As her hopes of surviving had started to fade, she wrote a heartbreaking letter to her family to say goodbye.

She wrote a letter to her family to say goodbye after becoming stranded (Picture: Victoria Police)

‘I thought I was going to die there,’ she said. 

She told the Herald Sun that her letter read: ‘If you don’t find me by this time I could be dead by frozen cold. I love you all. Don’t cry for me.’

Her loved ones had raised the alarm the day she went missing after she failed to make her usual daily call to check in with them while away on a holiday in Bright.

After five days of futile searches across a number of areas, Ms Ip’s car was finally spotted from above by a police helicopter at the end of a dirt road in the Mitta Mitta bushland. 

A heartwarming video shared by Victoria police showed the moment the extremely relieved Ms Ip realised she had been saved.

Footage shows her waving at the chopper before a police vehicle tracks down her exact location on the path surrounded by thick trees and forestation. 

When she noticed the car, Ms Ip was visibly thankful as she waved at the officers who then took her by the hand and led her to safety following the harrowing ordeal.

She told 9News Australia: ‘The first thing coming in my mind, I was thinking “water and a cigarette”. Thank god the policewoman had a cigarette.

‘I thought I was going to die there. My whole body shut down on Friday. I was about to give up.’

Heartwarming footage showed the moment Ms Ip was spotted (Picture: Victoria Police)

Officers led Ms Ip to safety following her harrowing ordeal (Picture: Victoria Police)

Police sergeant Martin Torpey said: ‘Lillian was found a good 60km away from the nearest town and due to health issues she was unable to try and walk for help so stayed with her car.

‘She was only planning a short-day trip so had only taken a couple of snacks and lollies with her but no water.

‘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.

‘While she couldn’t move her car, she was able to use the heater overnight to give her some warmth.

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‘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.

‘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.’

Ms Ip was taken to hospital for observation and was treated for dehydration before returning safely to her home in Cheltenham near Melbourne.

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‘I thought I was going to die there.’