Jenny Atamanik, a 23-year-old Canadian research student working for the Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH), became lost in the Hincks Reserve at around 10.30am on Saturday.

She became disoriented and separated from the DEH team, which was tracking lizards in bushfire prone areas.

“That moment when I realised I was lost was by far the scariest part, when I knew I wasn’t getting out of there without someone else’s help,” Jenny said.

“I had a bit of a panic at first then I realised I needed to calm down and try and find out where I was. I just kept walking until it got dark.”

Police were alerted to the woman’s disappearance and Cleve, Kimba, Port Lincoln and Whyalla SES volunteers were called to assist in a search. Emergeny services established a forward command post at Midway Park - the home of John and Betty Pearce and overnight the SES search vehicle was parked on Verran Hill with its lights on.

“When night came on I was in an area with a lot of dead eucalyptus so I piled lots of branches and dead trees in a lean-to and sheltered there. I didn’t sleep at all but I could see the flashing lights in the distance and they made me feel a lot better.”

By Sunday morning, around 20 volunteers, local police and the STAR operations Rescue One helicopter were all searching the 1200ha Hincks Reserve.

Jenny was finally discovered, walking along Lawrie Road.

“I am so thankful and so grateful for all the time that they spent trying to find me, I wouldn’t have gotten out without them,” Jenny said.

Search coordinator Bvt Sgt Leanne Marsh congratulated local search volunteers on their efforts.

“The SES volunteers did a great job and we need to thank local residents John and Betty Pearce who provided a forward command post at their home Midway Park,” Leanne said.

“Police recommend that anyone working in these regions carry a personal EPIRB. When you are bushwalking or travelling in the bush, stay together, and be prepared.

“Jenny was equipped with extra clothing and water which would have helped her through the night.”

The rescued field worker also encouraged people to be prepared before going into the bush.

“I’d say stay with someone, don’t get separated, and have all the emergency equipment on you,” Jenny said. “This wasn’t something we expected because we do have safety equipment and we usually stay together.”

“I was impressed by all the search efforts put in by my fellow field workers and everyone in Cleve and all the others who came around.”