War survivor hid from rescue helicopters searching for her

'We think she was scared of the noise, but by the third day she was too tired to keep running so she lay down in the canefield.'

A MIRACULOUS rescue came to a tearful end when an elderly woman, lost for three days, was reunited with her daughter.

Barbara Farren-Price said she broke down when she received a call from her husband telling her to "come home straight away" on Monday.

Mrs Farren-Price was out searching for her 83-year-old mother Barbara Marincic at the time and didn't know what to expect.

"When I got home I was thinking the worst but my husband had a smile on his face and that's when I just started crying from relief.

"No one gave up, that is what made the difference. The Army, the SES, my neighbours, RACQ CQ Rescue, the police … everyone was amazing."

Barbara Marincic, 83, with her granddaughter Maxine Marincic. Picture: Contributed

Ms Marincic wandered away from her home early Friday morning, sparking a widespread search of bushland and rivers between Yalboroo and Pindi Pindi, about 65km north of Mackay.

Mrs Farren-Price said her mother survived by drinking water from dirty puddles.

"She is from Slovenia and she is a World War II child, so the helicopter that was trying to find her, she was running from," she said.

"We think she was scared of the noise, but by the third day she was too tired to keep running so she lay down in the canefield."

 

Barbara Marincic, 83, with her daughter Barbara Farren-Price at Mackay Base Hospital. Picture: Rainee Shepperson

Now recovering in hospital, Ms Marincic is expected to return home tomorrow.

She is a little dehydrated, has a few scratches and bruises, but is still in good spirits, Mrs Farren-Price said.

The family is planning to have a party to celebrate Ms Marincic's incredible survival.