A woman missing for almost two weeks in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales has been found injured but alive and possibly suffering from a snakebite in a search described as a “needlehead in a haystack”.

Lovisa “Kiki” Sjoberg, 48, was found hiking in bushland along the Nungar Creek Trail in Kosciuszko National Park during a multi-agency search shortly before 5 p.m. Sunday.

Monaro Police District Superintendent Toby Lindsay said Ms Sjoberg was found “dazed and injured” by a National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) officer.

“She states that she was bitten by a copperhead snake four days before she was found and also twisted her ankle and suffered from dehydration,” he said.

Superintendent Lindsay said Ms Sjoberg was “quite unwell” and was taken to Cooma Hospital where she continues to recover.

Before she was found on Sunday, Ms Sjoberg was last seen driving a rental car in the park on October 15.

The search for Ms Sjoberg began on October 21 after the car rental company informed NSW Police the vehicle had not been moved for six days and was overdue for return.

The car was located by police near the Kiandra courthouse in the northeastern part of Kosciuszko National Park.

“We had over 30 people on site searching every day,” said Superintendent Lindsay.

“We were very concerned about the missing woman and are very pleased that she was found safe and reasonably well.”

Snowy Mountains horse walker Peter Cochran was among a group of locals who joined the “intensive” search on horseback.

“All of us who have been looking for her are very relieved that she is safe and sound,” he said.

The search included police units, two helicopters, the NPWS, State Ambulance Service, rural fire service, four-wheel drive vehicles, trail bikes and members of the public.

Load…

Mr Cochran said the area searched within the national park was covered in “dense undergrowth”.

“The brush is incredibly dense… you can drive within five meters of them without seeing them,” he said.

“Those close to her need to comfort her at this moment and allow her to come to terms with what has happened.”

“A pinhead in a haystack”

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, nighttime temperatures around Kosciuszko National Park fell to as low as zero degrees Celsius last week.

Local photographer Michelle Brown and her husband Ian helped with the search

Ms. Brown said her husband hiked 36 miles last week to search for the 48-year-old woman.

Ms. Sjoberg was described as an “enthusiastic photographer” who frequently visited Kosciuszko National Park to photograph wild horses.

“She knows the area… this was her refuge, her safe place,” Ms Brown said.

NSW Health confirmed Ms Sjoberg was in a stable condition at Cooma District Hospital.