Korean backpacker winched to safety by Queensland Ambulance

A Korean bushwalker who vanished a week ago has been found after spending a week lost in rugged bushland.

Joohee Han, 25, was found by soldiers and police officers at Mount Tyson in Tully, south of Cairns, on a rocky waterfall just after midday on Thursday. 

Queensland Ambulance flight paramedic Hannah Gaulke said Ms Han survived with no food at all and drank from the water she had found flowing from the rockface, ABC News reported.   

‘In the entire time she was missing she’d had no food with her at all,’ Ms Gaulke said. 

 

Korean bushwalker Joohee Han (pictured) was found in bushland near Tully on Thursday after she went missing a week ago

Ms Han was rescued about midday on Thursday by the search team who had been extensively looking for her

Ms Han was rescued about midday on Thursday by the search team who had been extensively looking for her

Ms Han told a friend she was on a bushwalk and took a photo at the top of the mountain, which is when she fell and lost consciousness for about four-to-five hours. 

When she regained consciousness, she wandered through the thick bushland trying to find a way to escape.

After a while reached a spot where she was unable to exit from, and that’s where she remained for the following days. 

When emergency services found her, they were unable to reach her on the ground due to the terrain.

They sent her food a few hours before eventually winching her to safety.  

Ms Han was last seen at a supermarket south of Cairns in Far North Queensland on May 31. 

An extensive search involving police, 20 SES volunteers, Defence and National Parks and Wildlife crews and two helicopters was launched on Wednesday after concerned friends reported her missing. 

An extensive search involving police, 20 SES volunteers, Defence and National Parks and Wildlife crews and two helicopters was launched on Wednesday

An extensive search involving police, 20 SES volunteers, Defence and National Parks and Wildlife crews and two helicopters was launched on Wednesday

Acting SES area coordinator Eleanor Rosam told AAP the search terrain was difficult.

‘It’s a track that is not used very frequently so it’s not in the best condition,’ she said. 

‘The woman was found near a creek line and is due to be airlifted from the site,’ a Queensland Police statement said.

‘Police would like to thank emergency services and members of the public who assisted with the search and rescue of the woman.’

Police say it was a ‘miracle’ that Ms Han survived.

Inspector Steve Kersley said Ms Han was dehydrated but otherwise well and would be taken to hospital.

Ms Han is believed to have become disorientated and wandered off the track. 

She told a friend on June 1 that she was on a bushwalk at Mount Tyson (pictured)

She told a friend on June 1 that she was on a bushwalk at Mount Tyson (pictured)

 

 

 



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