Hiker found after six days in flooded bushland on the Gold Coast breaks her silence

A young Chinese hiker who spent five nights alone lost in flooded bushland has recalled how she miraculously survived the traumatic ordeal.

Yang Chen, 26, was hiking with a friend in the Tallebudgera Valley on the outskirts of the Gold Coast on February 12 when she vanished after the pair became separated.

A widespread search was repeatedly suspended over the days that followed due to treacherous conditions.

Hopes were quickly fading Ms Chen wouldn’t be found alive when she was spotted perched on a 50-metre cliff-face on Monday, 300 metres from where she went missing.

The international Bond University student, who has been living on the Gold Coast for almost two years, doesn’t believe she would have survived another day in the bush.

She has written a heartfelt public letter recalling her extraordinary tale of survival and paid tribute to everyone involved in the search and rescue, adding she’ll be forever grateful. 

‘I wanted to personally say thank you after the ordeal I have been through because I want Australia to know how lucky I feel,’ the letter begins. 

‘I am very grateful. And I want to say thank you to my friends and family, and that I’m sorry for putting them through so much worry.

Ms Chen had been on a two-hour hike with a male friend checking out a waterfall when she became lost while trying to find her way out after trailing behind. 

‘I didn’t know what to do, but I knew I had to stay calm,’ Ms Chen recalled.

‘I did have a phone but I could not get service, so I kept trying to go higher to hopefully get a phone signal but I could not get one.

Yang Chen (pictured with rescuers on Monday) got lost on a hike and was found five days later

‘I could see that the river did not run in a straight line and it was too dangerous to walk down. The river looked like it went around in circles.’ 

She spent the next five nights sleeping inside a banana sack she found and survived on water and berries, most of which she didn’t like as ‘they didn’t taste right’.

She would lose her phone and shoes over the coming days. 

‘I walked around desperately looking for a way out but there were no paths, no signs,’ Ms Chen wrote. 

‘At night, I could hear some things in the bushes but I would just close my eyes and my sleeping was okay if it was not raining. I wish it had been sunnier because it was so cold at night.’ 

Ms Chen realised a search was underway after she heard the sound of helicopters. 

‘I could see the door of the helicopter open, and see the people inside looking for me. They felt so close. I yelled out and waved but they could not see me under the trees,’ she recalled.

Yang was found perched on a 50-metre gorge on Monday, not far from she went missing

Her ordeal ended on Monday morning when she was spotted on the cliff by local resident Lyn Cook.  

Ms Chen was taken to Robina Hospital suffering from scratches, dehydration and malnutrition, but was otherwise unharmed.

Several days on, Ms Chen is still bearing the physical and mental scars of her harrowing ordeal. 

Yang Chen was taken to hospital suffering from cuts and scratches (pictured) and dehydration

‘I know I am lucky to be alive. I think I would have died if I was out there for one more day,’ she said.

‘I have been very tired and sleeping a lot. I am looking forward to seeing my friends and now I just really want to return to a normal life.’ 

Ms Chen ended her letter with a repeated apology for the worry she caused everyone.

‘People have asked what I was thinking when I was alone in the dark? I thought: “If I can get out, I will cherish my life – just my normal life,’ she said.

 ‘I know I am lucky to be alive. I think I would have died if I was out there for one more day,’ student Yang Chen (pictured shortly after she was rescued) said