A woman missing in the Queensland bush for more than a week has been found, in what police say is a “miraculous” turn of events.
Rikki Leigh Mitchell, 38, was last seen at a rest stop at Reid River between Townsville and Charters Towers on May 2.
Police and SES volunteers had launched an extensive search of the area surrounding the Flinders Highway on Friday. Homicide detectives were called in as they admitted “serious concerns” for Ms Mitchell’s welfare.
Then, on Wednesday, just half an hour before police were due to brief media at the search site, Ms Mitchell was found.
The 38-year-old mother of four had reportedly found an all-terrain vehicle on a rural property while she was lost. She used it to find her way back to police and SES search crews at the rest stop.
Detective Inspector Jason Shepherd said he was “elated” that Ms Mitchell was alive.
“I was ecstatic to have this outcome,” he told the ABC.
“I’ve got to be honest, the longer the search went, the less optimistic we were.
“We’re concerned from the start, but we’re very concerned after seven days when people haven’t been found – so it is miraculous.”
Ms Mitchell and her partner stopped at the rest area for a swim on May 2. He went off to visit someone else and, when he returned, she could not be found.
Police said Ms Mitchell she possibly became disoriented, and headed in the wrong direction.
“She said that she kept walking and this morning she got to a point where she was able to hear the traffic, obviously from the Flinders Highway,” Detective Inspector Shepherd said.
That’s when she found the ATV, and headed back to find police. Detective Inspector Shepherd said Ms Mitchell appeared to have no serious injuries and had apparently survived by drinking water from puddles.
“She’s obviously got signs that she’s been out in the bush – she’s got lots of scratches over her body, her feet look like they’re cut open and bleeding,” he said.
“It has been seven days so I’m not sure whether she’s been able to find any food in that time, how much water she’s been able to drink and whether that water was safe.”
Ms Mitchell was assessed by paramedics on Wednesday, and was being transported to hospital.
