Nurse in boot - Brother: Sister on road to recovery

The bother of a female nurse found alive in the boot [trunk] of her car has said she is doing "fine".

Refilwe Makola, 35, flew from his home in South Africa to be with his sister Magdeline, he says they celebrated the new year together.

Mr Makola has visited his sister every day since he arrived in Scotland.

He said: "She is very strong and she is laughing now and starting to make some jokes.

"When I arrived she just laughed and opened her hands to hug me and asked about my journey and it ended up with her being more concerned about me rather than me being concerned about her."

South African-born Magdeline Makola, 38, went missing on Monday 15 December, and was found alive inside the boot of her red, Vauxhall Astra car 20 miles from her home.

She was dehydrated and suffering from hypothermia when police found her.

Her brother said [about her going missing]:

"She is not the kind who would leave the house without telling you where she is going.

"While she was missing my mother was always thinking that something had happened to her but I had a very strong instinct that Magdeline was alive and I was always telling my mother that Magdeline is fine and that is how it turned out."

He added: "It was very difficult and very tough for the whole family to have a family person missing."

Sources used:

• Scotsman.com
• BBC News
• Lothian and Borders Police- Press Release