In an extraordinary survival story, 26-year-old German backpacker Carolina Wilga was found safe after spending 11 nights lost in the harsh expanse of Western Australia’s outback. Her ordeal began when her van became stuck in a remote bushland, leading her to wander approximately 24 kilometers (15 miles) from the vehicle.
With minimal food supplies, Wilga relied on her ingenuity, drinking water collected from puddles and rain and seeking shelter in a cave. Exhausted, dehydrated, and suffering from numerous insect bites and a foot injury, she was convinced she would not be found.
On Friday, her luck changed when a passerby, Tania Henley, spotted Wilga frantically waving by the road. Henley described the backpacker as being in a "fragile state," without shoes and with a makeshift bandage on her injured foot. Following her discovery, Wilga was airlifted to a hospital in Perth where she has since expressed relief and gratitude for her rescue.
Authorities believe that Wilga's survival amidst the prickly bushland was a testament to her resilience. Acting police inspector Jessica Securo highlighted the unexpected nature of the rescue, declaring it a matter of sheer luck. Wilga had last been seen at a general store in Beacon on June 29, prior to the discovery of her abandoned van the following Thursday.
Now recuperating, Wilga is taking things one day at a time after experiencing a "good night's sleep" in the hospital. Her family expressed deep gratitude for her safe return, demonstrating the powerful connection and support that family and community bring in times of crisis.
