Female student rescued is carried downhill by search-and-rescue agent
Chinese college students who went missing near a valley waterfall in a national park on the Gold Coast during last week`s stormy storm and rising streams were found alive today and successfully rescued by search-and-rescue agents.
Yang Chen,26, was reported missing at 11 p.m. on Wednesday, when her male companion, who was walking with her near Gorge Falls in the Tallebudgera Valley scenic spot, called police because she couldn`t be seen.
Police and emergency services immediately launched search-and-rescue operations in Springbrook National Park, but the search was halted around 5:30 p.m. due to severe stormy weather. Local rainfall is known to exceed 141 mm in 24 hours. Since then the weather has improved slightly and the search has continued, but until yesterday no trace of the missing woman has been found.
The police announced this (Monday) morning that they were sending divers to participate in the search. Recent torrential rains have caused several streams of water around the canyon`s waterfalls to soar and the currents to be turbulent. Divers will search the waterways on Monday, while other emergency services personnel will again go hiking in the area.
After a large number of search-and-rescue efforts, good news came this afternoon that the Gold Coast Marine had found the six-day-old schoolgirl near Canyon Falls at around 11 p.m.
She had been sleeping in the cave and drinking from nearby streams for the past five nights after she was lost and separated from her male companion.
She was rescued and taken to Robina Hospital for treatment.
Police "spare no effort" in search and rescue
Mitch Gray, senior sheriff of the Gold Coast Marine Police, who was involved in the search and rescue operation, said today`s search was "looking for the last piece of jigsaw."
"This is the hardest land search I`ve ever been involved in," he said. "
"Today and tomorrow seem to be the end of this sort of search time, and I had a bad feeling that we would not be able to find her alive. "
"My heart is very tight. "
"Members of the police dive squad risked their lives climbing over the cliffs to reach Ms. Chen`s location, and locals helped search and rescue efforts. "
"We use local experts to help search and rescue people who have lived there all their lives, which is very valuable to us. "
Ms. Chen, who separated from her male companion, was found no longer here when her partner tried to climb higher at the junction near the two waterfalls and turned back to where she was, Sheriff Gray said.
He said police had "spared no effort" in the search, using resources including canines, drones, police officers, criminal investigators and cross-country bike teams.
Woman rescued in good spirits
Gary Berkowitz, a intensive care worker who arrived at the scene, said Ms Chen was lucky enough to "drink a lot of water."
"When they found her, she was in surprisingly good spirits. "
"She seemed to be in good shape, able to walk to an ambulance, and an extension to the National Parks team made her a sandwich, which she no doubt enjoyed. "
`Fortunately, last week`s severe weather conditions have eased,` Mr. Bekowiz said.
"She lost her shoes and I believe a rescue worker gave her socks so she could protect her feet while walking. "
Bond University, where she attended, was delighted with her rescue. "We`ve been in touch with her parents and they`re extremely happy with the good news," the university`s speaker said. "
"Her friends and classmates were also told."
University student rescued is put in ambulance
