25 October 2024

Search now into fifth day for woman missing in Snowy Mountains

| Edwina Mason
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lovisa

A search for a woman missing in the Snowy Mountains has entered its fifth day. Image: Edwina Mason.

An intensive search for a woman missing in the Snowy Mountains region has entered its fifth day.

NSW Police say that despite extensive efforts from search and rescue teams, 48-year-old photographer and experienced bushwalker Lovisa Sjoberg still hasn’t been found.

Ms Sjoberg, known as Kiki, was last seen and spoken to on Tuesday 8 October but police are also acting on information of another sighting of her in Kosciuszko National Park seven days later when she was seen driving a grey Mitsubishi Outlander with the NSW registration DF25BA about 7 am on Tuesday 15 October.

It is understood that the alarm was raised when Ms Sjoberg’s vehicle, a rental, was not returned by the due date.

When she could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Monaro Police District were notified Monday (21 October) and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts. Her vehicle was discovered unlocked at Kiandra and an immediate search was triggered with a command post established at the Kiandra courthouse, on the Snowy Mountains Highway.

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The joint agency search in the rugged mountainous terrain involves NSW Police, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), State Emergency Services (SES) and NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS).

Members of the public are also assisting in the search, which involves ATVs and the RFS helicopter with infra-red capabilities.

Lovisa is known to frequent the Kiandra area and national parks around the Snowy Mountains. She has been described as an experienced bushwalker and is known for her photography, particularly of the wild horses, or brumbies, of Kosciuszko National Park.

The heritage settlement of Kiandra, once known as Australia’s highest town and wedged between mountains on a barren hill about 1400 metres above sea level, is located midway between Tumut and Cooma.

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This area is renowned for its high winds and cold overnight temperatures and concerns for Ms Sojber’s welfare have heightened as each day passes.

Around 44 mm of rain has been recorded in the area since Ms Sojberg was last sighted; 34.4 mm of that was recorded on the night of 19 October. Temperatures dropped to below zero this morning (25 October) which is well below the October average minimum of 5.1 degrees.

Lovisa is described as being of Caucasian appearance, with an olive complexion, black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information into her whereabouts is urged to contact Monaro Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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