Ms Synnerdahl, who came to Lightning Ridge about three years ago from the Blue Mountains, was rescued by the Lightning Ridge SES on Monday April 19.

She was suspected to be suffering from spinal and internal injuries and was taken to Dubbo Base Hospital; however, she has since been transferred to the Lightning Ridge Hospital, where she is “on the mend,” according to her father.

Mr Synnerdahl said he was particularly grateful to Bob Duncan who lives up the road from his daughter’s camp.

Apparently Mr Duncan was the first to the raise the alarm after Ms Synnerdahl’s disappearance.

Mr Synnerdahl credits Mr Duncan with having literally started saving his daughter’s life after he initiated the action that eventually resulted in his daughter’s rescue.

Mr Synnerdahl said he could see why people were initially hesitant to launch a search party when his daughter’s disappearance was first reported to local authorities because she hadn’t been missing for very long at that stage.

He was, however, very grateful to Scott Davison for his efforts in pushing the investigation along after he was contacted by Mr Duncan, who remained concerned for Ms Synnerdahl’s safety even after he had reported her disappearance to police on Saturday.

Mr Synnerdahl also paid tribute to Constable Sarah Cunningham from Lightning Ridge and Detective Trent Swinton from Walgett for making the whole situation a lot easier.

Mr Synnerdahl visited his daughter in Dubbo Base Hospital for a period last week before returning to his home in Adelaide.

An emotional Mr Synnerdahl, who is battling cancer, said he was so glad to see her alive and being looked after so well by the staff at the Dubbo Base Hospital.

Furthermore Mr Synnerdahl said he was touched by the beautiful, heartfelt messages of care and concern that his daughter received from her friends in Lightning Ridge while she was in hospital in Dubbo.

Although Mr Synnerdahl has never been to Lightning Ridge he said he would like to offer his gratitude to the lovely people of the town who contributed to his daughter’s rescue and her ongoing recovery.

“I would shake all of their hands, if I could,” Mr Synnerdahl said when he spoke to The Ridge News from his home earlier this week.