Authorities reported that a woman discovered in a remote mountain range in Australia, after being missing for nearly two weeks, was found “dazed and unwell” but alive, having suffered a snakebite in the wilderness.
New South Wales Police confirmed that Lovisa “Kiki” Sjoberg, 48, was located shortly before 5 p.m. local time on Sunday in the Snowy Mountains area of Kosciuszko National Park. Her rescue followed an extensive multi-agency search involving two helicopters and canine units.
Sjoberg was last seen on October 15, when she was driving a rented vehicle in the national park. The search was initiated after the rental company notified the police that the car had not been moved for six days and the lease had expired.
During a press conference reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Monaro Police District Superintendent Toby Lindsay stated that the woman was “dazed and injured” and in “quite unwell” condition. Over 30 searchers combed through dense scrubland daily, with temperatures in the region dropping as low as 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Paramedics treated Sjoberg at the scene for exposure and “what is believed to be a snake bite” before she was transported to Cooma District Hospital, where her condition was reported as stable.
According to the Australian Museum in Sydney, copperhead snakes possess potent neurotoxic venom, and a bite can be fatal without prompt medical attention.
Lindsay further noted, “She reported that she was bitten by a copperhead snake four days prior to her rescue, and she also rolled her ankle, resulting in dehydration.” He expressed relief that she had been found safe and in reasonably good condition, despite initial grave concerns for her wellbeing.