After five days of praying for her daughter’s safe return, the mother of Cassie Olczak has been granted her wish.

Cassie, 16, was found on Friday morning after going to visit friends and not returning home on Sunday night.

She told police she spent five days in the bush without food, water and shelter

Cassie was spotted walking along Princes Highway, south of Sydney at about 9am when a passing motorist identified her and phoned emergency services.

She was found at Waterfall railway station, where she was last spotted on CCV footage at about 7pm on Sunday.

“I just had to keep looking at her … and I was astonished at how well she looked,” her mother, Connie Olczak told reporters.

She said it was a “miracle” her daughter had been found.

“I don’t even know what to say. I’m just grateful that they’ve found her.”

“[It’s] the most amazing feeling in the world, I can’t describe it.

“I felt like I was living a movie and I had to keep looking at her ‘Oh my god, it’s actually her’.”

Police are hoping to interview the teenager, who is being medically assessed, “once she has recovered”.

Mrs Olczak also said it was “very bizarre” and out of character for her daughter to disappear as she had.

NSW Assistant Superintendent Gary Ford said Cassie told police she had been in the bush the entire time.

“She has been in the bush … from what she said. Not that far from the train station area but she has been in the bush for this period of time,” he said.

“She’s obviously had some exposure to the elements but she’s pretty much really in good health considering.”

Cassie was taken to Sutherland Hospital to be assessed.

What happened to Cassie?

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

On Sunday afternoon she went to visit friends but did not return home that night.

Ms Olczak said she had become agitated and left after receiving some unwelcome news. It is believed to have involved a boy in her friendship group.

Previously her mother said on Facebook she may have been jet lagged and disorientated from the flight home or that she feared her daughter may have been given “a substance”.

The teenager had not accessed her bank account and her mobile phone was switched off throughout.

Before she was found, her mother Mrs Olczak made an emotional plea online in several Facebook posts to help her find Cassie.

She told family and friends “time is running out” and “I am begging for help”.

“Time crucial now…. When reporting sightings I need time, date and location. Please take photo if possible and pm [private message] me for verification,” one post read.

“I am begging for help! Cassie if you see this please tell someone. We need you back home safe! We all miss you and love you!”

Acting Superintendent Ford said police would speak to Cassie once she had recovered to clarify what happened.

“We will talk to her in the next 24 hours or so, once she’s recovered,” he said.

“At this stage we don’t have answers to those questions [about what happened] and we’re not going to put pressure on her straight away.”