Missing bipolar woman hid from searchers

Searchers looking for a woman missing for three days were stunned when she walked out of the bush yesterday alive and well.

Dianne Lane-Wright, 45, who is bipolar, was reported missing on Monday afternoon, after her vehicle was found down a 40m bank in Bull Creek, 60km southwest of Dunedin.

South Otago Search and Rescue incident controller Constable Murray Hewitson spotted Mrs Lane-Wright while dropping off a group of searchers yesterday morning.

"I pulled out the binoculars and had a closer look," he told The Otago Daily Times.

"It looked like her and when we approached her, she said her name was Dianne. It was pretty surreal to be honest."

Cold, hungry and tired, it was believed she had not eaten or drunk anything, but she was in good health.

Mr Hewitson said searchers had twice searched the bush area where Mrs Lane-Wright was found.

Mrs Lane-Wright told searchers she had heard them once, but did not want to be found at that time.

She was well hidden to avoid detection.

- NZPA