Missing backpacker turns up safe

Louise is reunited with her boyfriend after her ordeal

British tourist Louise Saunders who survived three nights lost in an Australian rainforest has told how she walked to safety.

The 19-year-old from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, turned up safe and well after finding her way out of dense jungle to the outskirts of a town.

It was an experience and an adventure but I would never want to go through it again

Louise Saunders

At a press conference in the town of Tully, in northern Queensland, she apologised to her mum for making her worry.

The trainee beauty therapist had been missing since Tuesday after she set out alone wearing only a T-shirt and shorts to hike to the top of Mount Tyson.

Cold nights

Louise described how she was scared and cold at night when she could see the eyes of animals in the dense foliage.

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"I didn't really sleep. I kept waking. It seemed like I slept for 10 minutes at a time. It was just so cold," she said.

She ate a banana but after that had only sugar-free chewing gum to eat and water to drink.

"I'm always going to thank chewing gum for my survival," she said.

She continued: "It was an experience and an adventure but I would never want to go through it again."

The tourist stayed in one open spot on top of a waterfall for a day hoping to be found as she could hear a helicopter overhead.

Louise's family had been anxious

"There was just so much bush in the way.

"I thought this is it. The helicopter had been searching for three days, I thought if I don't get out, I never will."

So she started walking and eventually followed a stream down the mountain where she came across some people at a rubbish dump in Tully.

Backpacker 'lucky to be alive'
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As for her mum Liz, who has been waiting at home in England for news, Louise said she was constantly in her thoughts and she hoped she had not worried her too much.

Sending a message home, she told her: "I just love you all so much and thought about you all the time.

"I love you more than anyone in the world. I wish you could be here now."

But Louise, who began a gap year in Australia with a friend in June, is to continue her travels.

'Amazing news'

Her mother Liz said: "It's been the worst time of my life.

"You never experience anything like this. It's just amazing news.

"I knew it would be tonight, I knew they would find her safe and well tonight."

Her daughter was taken to a hospital in Tully to be treated for minor scratches and bruises.

Insp Paul Taylor, of Queensland Police, said Louise was lucky to survive but put it down to her "high spirits."

Expert trackers were hopeful after they had found the 19-year-old's name written on a tree in the rainforest, a banana skin and footprint, near to where she was last.

The teenager is now reunited with her Australian boyfriend Steven Wong who had spent the previous day with the search party.

The message trackers found read "Louise S loves Steven W for eva" illustrated with a heart.

Louise had phoned her friend on Tuesday to say she was lost before her mobile phone signal cut out.

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