‘Luckily, she was well-provisioned with food and water and a silver blanket’: Missing Litchfield hiker’s experience saves her life

Two days lost in Litchfield National Park wasn’t enough to keep the smile off Maggie Dobbin’s face when she was found by emergency services.

• ‘I’m in absolutely good health’: Missing 71-year-old tourist found alive and well in Litchfield

TWO days lost in the wilderness of Litchfield National Park wasn’t enough to keep the smile off Maggie Dobbin’s face when she was found by emergency services.

The 71-year-old hiker had set off on a bushwalk to Tjaetaba Falls from Wangi Falls, a journey of about 10km, on Sunday.

However, she was reported missing when she hadn’t returned to her friends at the campsite hours later.

Luckily Ms Dobbin, from Tweed Heads in New South Wales, was an experienced hiker and was prepared for any emergency.

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She found freshwater and had packed enough food to eat over a couple days.

But one of her big saviours was the silver blanket she’d packed – a tool that kept her warm during the cool nights when temperatures dropped to as low as 17.9C.

Emergency services started a large-scale air and land search for her on Monday morning, involving personnel from NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services, NT Emergency Service volunteers and NT Parks.

A day and a half later, hoorays of relief sounded across the Wangi Falls campground where police and emergency services had set up a search base.

After 2 nights lost in Litchfield National Park south of Darwin missing Hiker Maggie has been found apparently none the worse for wear after her harrowing ordeal Picture: Glenn Campbell

Ms Dobbin had been resting in the shade when she heard a search helicopter and was able to walk to a point where she could be seen.

The 71-year-old had been found.

NT Police Superintendent Brendan Muldoon said emergency services couldn’t have hoped for a better outcome.

“Luckily, she was well-provisioned with food and water and a silver blanket, she had also found enough freshwater to stay hydrated,” he said.

NTFES searchers debrief when after two nights lost in Litchfield National Park south of Darwin, missing Hiker Maggie was found. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“I’d like to thank everyone involved in the lady’s rescue.”

Despite looking like she had a couple of rough nights’ sleep, Ms Dobbin seemed healthy and lively when she arrived back at the Wangi Falls campground.

“I’m in absolutely good health,” she said.

“I would like to thank the search and rescue teams.”

After being assessed by paramedics in Litchfield National Park, Ms Dobbin was deemed to not need further assessment or medical treatment and did not go to hospital.