KEY POINTS:
A Christchurch mother-of-three was tonight being assessed by a doctor after being missing for nearly three days.
Joan Lorraine Catlow, 39, was found this afternoon at Christchurch Public Hospital after a staff member alerted police.
She left her home in the suburb of Dallington in the early hours of Tuesday morning, wearing only a blue satin nightdress and maroon towelling robe in freezing weather.
Detective Sergeant David Harvey of Christchurch police said Ms Catlow was emotional when she was told she had been reported missing and police were searching for her.
After walking out of her home wearing only the nightdress and robe on Tuesday, she took some clothes off the clothesline, but did not have any shoes, he said.
She had spent the last two and a half days at the hospital and other public places.
She was found after police studied closed circuit television footage of the hospital grounds after a staff member saw her last night and recognised her from a missing poster.
She was physically unhurt when she was found but was being assessed by her local GP and police were offering her support.
Mr Harvey said he did not know if she would immediately be returning to home to her three children aged 11, 14 and 16.
But he said her family was "very relieved" she was found safe and physically unhurt.
"There is something that I would like to express and that is to the public of Christchurch who have been of great assistance with the sightings.
"I do have to ask that if people do observe unusual incidents or people of which they have concern about, then if they contact us we can deal with it there and then."
- NZPA
