Chinese Student Found Alive Five Days After She Went Missing During Gold Coast Flooding

A Chinese student was found alive Monday after going missing in a dense flooded thicket in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, for five days.

Chen Yang, 26, was hiking with another person when she lost her track into the wilderness of Tallebudgera Valley after getting separated from her partner, Brisbane Times reported. She was found by Queensland maritime police on a ledge near Gorge Falls, less than a mile from where she disappeared on Wednesday. Yang sustained minor leg injuries and serious dehydration.

Acting Senior Sergeant Mitch Gray said Yang felt "very lucky to be found alive."

The Gold Coast hinterland was subjected to flash flooding in the last week due to heavy rains. Police had to postpone the search for Yang because of the wet weather. Grey said police divers scaled the cliff on Sunday and found it “nothing short of amazing” to get her out of there the following day, The Guardian reported.

Members of the Gold Coast bushwalking club, park rangers, surf lifesavers, trail bike teams, and officers from the criminal investigation branch and rapid action control group were part of the search.

Police used drones during the search and also called out her name multiple times while rummaging about the bushland in helicopters. They said the woman sleeping in caves and drinking fresh water from nearby creeks for the past five days.

Critical care paramedic Gary Berkowitz who tended to Yang said she was fortunate to have had adequate access to water, ABC News reported.

Yang was reportedly able to walk to an ambulance on her own, which then transported her to a local hospital for treatment.