Rescue crews give medical aid to Nadia Monaco, who was found after spending two days in the bush. (Manitoba Office of the Fire Commissioner)

A 66-year-old woman missing for nearly two days near Stead, Man., has been found in good spirits after searchers heard her cries for help Friday morning.

RCMP Const. Miles Hiebert said searchers found Nadia Monaco in good shape around 8 a.m.

"The people that were searching report that she was obviously dehydrated and tired, but other than that feeling pretty good and good spirits."

Ken Falk, deputy fire chief of the community of Ashern, Man., was part of the group that found Monaco in the bush.

Monaco spent one night in this abandoned farm building. (Manitoba Office of the Fire Commissioner)

He said 10 searchers were heading into the bush when they heard a cry for help.

"She just hollered out for help," said Falk. "And of course once we spotted her we went running over."

Monaco told Falk she prayed for much of the time she was missing.

She was lost for two nights in Manitoba's Belair Provincial Forest after separating from a group of people who were picking wild mushrooms.

Monaco, an insulin-dependent diabetic, had spent the night in an abandoned farmhouse but decided in the morning to try to walk out of the forest.

Hiebert said she was transported to a nearby hospital for assessment.

Family surprised

The woman's former brother-in-law, Bart Monaco, said her entire family is relieved, but also surprised she was found in good condition.

"We were surprised, very surprised," he said. "I don't know how she did it, but she did it."

Monaco was reportedly not dressed for the cold, wet weather.

Her family believes her strong character played a role in her surviving in the forest without insulin.

"That's what worried us — insulin — but she's a very strong person," said Bart Monaco.

A team of 200 firefighters, natural resources officers, police, volunteers and family searched for the woman by land and by air around the community of Stead, about 90 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.