Lydia O’Sullivan traced to ecological retreat, having not contacted her family since 26 February

This article is more than 6 months old

This article is more than 6 months old

A British woman who went missing in Fiji has been found safe and well a week after she last contacted her family.

Lydia O’Sullivan was found at an ecological retreat in the mountains, according to her family.

Sullivan, 23, had not contacted her family since 26 February when she arrived in the South Pacific country.

Cumbria police had launched an appeal to find the woman, originally from Whitehaven in Cumbria. In a Facebook post on Saturday morning, her sister Franciene Nicholson said the family were “absolutely elated” that she had been found.

Nicholson said: “My mother has just spoken to her and she is safe and well, oblivious to the world search party looking for her. Sometimes social media is portrayed in a negative light, but today is a great day for the power of Facebook … Thank you Facebook, you found Lydia.”

On Saturday morning, the Namosi Eco Retreat posted a photo of O’Sullivan on its Facebook page, thanking her for coming to stay with them for the week.

They wished her a safe journey and said “the village kids miss you already”.