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Sydney teen found after five days in bush

Sydney teenager Cassie Olczak is receiving medical treatment after being found five days not far from where she went missing.

Missing teen Cassie Olczak
Missing teen Cassie Olczak Source: NSW Police

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Source: AAP


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After a "very bizarre" disappearance, Sydney teenager Cassie Olczak has been found alive and well near the train station she went missing from five days earlier.

She was located at Waterfall Train Station in Sydney's southern fringe by rail employees on Friday morning, after a passing motorist had seen her walking along the Princes Highway near the station and called triple-zero, police said.

Cassie had been missing since Sunday night and had not been seen since CCTV footage leaving that same station about 7pm.

Police believe Cassie had been alone in bushland in the Royal National Park near the station.

"She has been in the bush ... from what she said," Assistant Superintendent Gary Ford said.

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"She's obviously had some exposure to the elements but she's pretty much really in good health considering.

"We will talk to her in the next 24 hours or so, once she's recovered."

Her mother Connie Olczak described the disappearance as "very bizarre" and out of character.

She said it was "a miracle come true" her daughter had been found alive and that Cassie told her she had bumped her head.

"I just want the medical team to look after her ... she's been out for a long time," she said.

"I felt like I was living a movie, I was astonished at how well she looked and grateful, grateful, grateful."

She thanked the efforts of the more than 100 Fire & Rescue and SES members that had scoured bushland for her daughter.

"It is just a miracle and I don't know what to say, I'm just glad they found her," Mrs Olczak said.

Cassie went missing after visiting friends a day after returning to Australia from a trip to see her father in Abu Dhabi.

Friends told police they believe Cassie may have taken a 'substance' shortly before she went missing.


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