A woman who was stranded in the Australian bush for five days survived by eating sweets and drinking a bottle of wine.

Lillian Ip went missing after setting off on holiday and driving through dense bushland in Victoria state.

The 48-year-old hit a dead end and realised she had taken a wrong turn, but while trying to turn around her car became bogged in mud.

With no mobile coverage, she was unable to call for help.

Ms Ip – who does not drink – only had a bottle of wine which she had planned to give as a present and some sweets.

She used the car’s heater to keep warm overnight.

After five days, emergency services spotted Ms Ip’s car as they flew over the area.

She was taken to hospital and treated for dehydration.

“First thing that came to mind was water and a cigarette,” she told 9News. “Thank God (for) the policewoman, she had a cigarette.”

Asked how the wine tasted, she swore and added: “I thought I was going to die out there. My whole body shut down on Friday.”

Fearing she was not going to survive, she wrote a letter to her family telling them she loved them and to not cry for her.

She was found around 60km away from the nearest town and due to health issues was unable to walk for help so stayed with her car, Victoria Police said.

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Wodonga Police Station Sergeant Martin Torpey said: “She used great common sense to stay with her car and not wander off into bushland, which assisted in police being able to find her.

“The only liquid Lillian, who doesn’t drink, had with her was a bottle of wine she had bought as a gift for her mother so that got her through.

“After being lost in the bush for five days, she was extremely relieved and grateful to see us and we were just as happy to see her.”

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