Kalynda Davis has returned to Australia after a month-long ordeal. Source: Supplied

Kalynda Davis, who was reported missing by her family in early November, was expected to face a Chinese court this week charged with trying to smuggle 75kg of ice to Australia with Peter Gardner, a man she met on Tinder just weeks before.

The drugs had a street value of $80 million and the 22-year-old from Glenmore Park in Sydney’s northwest, faced the prospect of being executed by a Chinese firing squad if charged and convicted of drug trafficking.

But after a month in custody, Ms Davis was released and made a surprise trip home on Tuesday after what was described as a “clandestine diplomatic rescue operation”.

Her father Larry Davis, a NSW former police officer, told the Western Weekender that his daughter initially planned to visit New Zealand only, but decided at the last minute to travel to China for a short getaway beforehand.

The plan was to return to Sydney for a couple of days before the pair flew out to New Zealand for the rest of their holiday.

Her parents only became concerned on November 10 when they noticed their daughter had not accessed her Facebook account and police said she never boarded her return flight back to Sydney. A day after filing a missing persons report they were told the horrifying news that their daughter had been arrested and was being investigated over drug trafficking.

Kalynda Davis with her father Larry Davis. Source: Supplied

“Think of a parent’s worst nightmare and multiply it by 10, that’s what we went through. I know my daughter, I know my daughter — it was just my worst nightmare,” Mr Davis said.

The family endured an anxious month of waiting until they were finally told she was being released on Friday. Mr Davis flew to Guangzhou on Saturday to collect his youngest child where they had an emotional reunion.

“When I saw her for the first time, I just collapsed. She didn’t know that I was coming either. She kept saying ‘I’m sorry dad, I didn’t do it, I didn’t do it, I didn’t do it’,” he said.

But neither could relax until they hit the tarmac in Sydney, when the wheels touched both of them just started crying.

“She said that she can’t understand how she can thank the people who saved her life but I said to her, ‘no-one saved your life, you saved your life because of your actions, people just helped to get you back home’,” he said.

During her time in prison, Mr Davis said his daughter had her long blonde hair cut in a short bob and was shackled. She was not allowed to have contact with the outside world.

“It is like any detention centre, you have a small area to sleep and that’s it. The way that the Chinese authorities treated and respected her was incredible. Although conditions were not the best, their treatment of her was very respectful,” Mr Davis said.

Kalynda Davis had her hair cut in a bob during her time in a Chinese prison. Source: News Corp Australia

Her release reportedly came after Foreign Minister Julie Bishop oversaw behind-the-scenes negotiations between Chinese authorities and the Department of Foreign Affairs staff at the Australian Consulate-General in Guangzhou, which eventually saw her release and fly “covertly” back to Australia.

In a statement released by the family through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, they thanked Australian authorities.

“To the Australian consulate-general and staff: thank you for your dedication and work in negotiating with the Chinese Government and authorities.

“To the staff at Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade ... your tireless efforts will never be forgotten.”

But the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman told the New Zealand Herald that the decision to release Ms Davis was not influenced by any lobbying.

“We understand the decision to release Ms Davis rested solely with Chinese authorities. The Australian Government has advised that no negotiations were held to secure Ms Davis release, neither by consular officials nor by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.”

News.com.au has sought to confirm with DFAT whether any negotiations took place but has not received a response.

Ms Bishop has now told The Australian that she did lobby her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi about releasing Ms Davis from detention. “The NZ statement is incorrect,” she said.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully is under pressure because Ms Davis’ co-accused, Sydney-based New Zealander Peter Gardner, remains in jail and could still be facing the death penalty.

It is understood that Ms Davis was only carrying hand-luggage, a fact confirmed by her father, and this may have been a key factor in her defence because the illicit drugs were found in checked-in baggage in Guangzhou.

“She only had carry-on luggage, that’s all she had and she was just approached by authorities and asked to come back to the office. Then she found out what was happening and was taken to the detention centre,” Mr Davis said.

He said he knew his daughter, who is a talented athlete and promising basketballer, was innocent.

“I knew she was so innocent. I prayed every night that the truth would come out, I prayed for the authorities, that it was dealt with in the way that it was dealt with, and our prayers were answered.”