Family reunion for backpacker

Louise Saunders found her own route to safety

The mother of the young British backpacker who has been found after four days in the Australian rainforest says she "can't wait" to see her daughter again.

Liz Saunders, from Kidderminster in Worcestershire, said she would get the next flight out to be with her daughter, Louise.

The 19-year-old's disappearance on Mount Tyson on Tuesday started a massive police search.

Ms Saunders is in Australia with friends as part of a gap year - she intends to stay there until the New Year.

The family celebrated Louise's safe return

Mrs Saunders said she would join her daughter as soon as possible, along with her son James, 20, and daughter Holly, 15.

She said: "I've been thinking about her all the time and can't wait to see her.

"As soon as we can arrange it we'll all be going out to Australia."

Asked whether that would be immediately, she replied: "If we can arrange the flight, yes."

Ms Saunders is in Queensland with her friend, Jo Woodward, and boyfriend Steven Wong.

'Very smart'

She went missing after climbing Mount Tyson, near the town of Tully, which is covered in dense rainforest.

During her ordeal, she survived on chewing gum and water from a stream.

She eventually emerged near Tully's municipal rubbish dump on Friday after following the stream down the mountain to safety.

Police said she was "very smart" to find her own way off the mountain but criticised her decision to go into such a harsh environment alone.