Mandy Reichert had been missing for three days after she fell and injured herself hiking in Wasserauen in the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden, online news site 20 Minuten reported.

At approximately 4 o’clock on Sunday, she called for help, explaining that she had fallen and hurt herself. She was however unable to properly describe where she was, and even mobile technology was unable to pinpoint her exact location

Rescue services scoured the area with helicopters and dogs but remained unsuccessful until a team made up of members of the fire brigade, police force and Alpine Rescue Switzerland finally located her on Wednesday.

“She was in a very steep, slippery and inaccessible place,” police spokesman, Roland Koster, told 20 Minuten.

Reichert was only a few hundred metres from the train station when she slipped off the track and fell some way down a steep slope.

She was rescued by the Swiss air ambulance service, Rega, with rescue workers winching her to safety before flying her to hospital.

She managed to survive by drinking melted snow and nibbling on some bread that she had with her.

It is as yet unclear whether she has sustained any permanent damage but the hospital has confirmed that she is out of danger.