Woman found alive after 18 days 'in hole'

A DUTCH mother-of-two has been found alive 18 days after she fell in a hole while walking in mountains in southern Spain.

Civil Guard spokesperson Hector Ortega said that a group of mountaineers had found Mary Anne Goossens, 48, caught among boulders close to the source of the Chillar River outside the resort town of Nerja early yesterday.

The mountaineers were unable to rescue her, but left food and clothing before alerting regional emergency services.

Ms Goossens, from Stramproy in the Netherlands, was then rescued and flown to safety by helicopter.

She is now recovering in hospital from her ordeal.

Sources said she was weak, but that she is "conscious and talking".