By KATH GANNAWAY
A 25-YEAR-OLD Healesville woman has been found this morning after spending a night in the forest on the slopes of Mount St Leonard.
Sara Chehade was met with hugs, tears and food by her parents and boyfriend who were waiting at Donnelly’s Weir after news this morning that members of Police Search and Rescue had found her uninjured and in good spirits.
Sara set off at 10.45am on Thursday on her first solo walk in the area. Police were alerted after a phone call to her boyfriend just after 1pm on Thursday saying she was lost and couldn’t find markers to show her the way back to Donnelly’s.
Healesville Police started a search with Healesville, Upper Yarra and Nunawading SES, along with police, Melbourne Water and Parks Victoria, combing the area until after midnight this morning when the search was called off.
Healesville Sergeant Stewart Thomson said the decision was made to call in Police Search and Rescue to resume the search at first light this morning.
“Police Canine members have back-tracked her and made voice contact and found her safe and well,” he said.
Sara said she had managed to settle down and get some rest, knowing that people would be looking for her.
“It wasn’t too cold and the stars were out, so it wasn’t such a bad night.
“I didn’t hear any animals, just the sound of the stream. I was really more worried about my mum being worried than anything else,” she said.
Sara and the family said they wanted to thank the police, SES and others who had spent the night searching.
“They have been really good and I want to say a big thankyou to them all,” Sara said.
Her mum added her thanks to the SES members.
“For what they do as volunteers, and the fact that they do it from the heart, we are very thankful,” she said.
