
'Brave' backpacker recovering after days lost in bush
Carolina Wilga, 26, was last seen at a general store in the Western Australian wheatbelt town of Beacon on June 29, some 300km northeast of Perth.
Her disappearance triggered a massive search after a desperate plea for help from her mother amid concerns for her daughter's safety.
Late on Friday afternoon, she was found walking on a bush track by a member of the public.
"She's obviously been through a great deal," WA Police Inspector Martin Glynn told reporters.
"She does have some injuries. She's been ravaged by mosquitoes."
Ms Wilga was flown to a hospital in Perth for medical treatment after spending days lost in tough terrain, where temperatures dropped to zero at night.
"I think once we do hear her story, it will be a remarkable story," Insp Glynn said, adding that it was a "great result" for the backpacker's family and those involved in the search.
"She's obviously coped in some amazing conditions.
"There's a very hostile environment out there, both from flora and fauna. It's a really, really challenging environment."
Insp Glynn said Ms Wilga had "covered a lot of ground" during her "amazing journey" and it was a testimony to her bravery.
Ms Wilga did not appear to have any serious injuries, but she had a lot of minor ones, he said.
"She's endured a lot ... (and is) in quite a fragile condition," he said.
Ms Wilga's Mitsubishi van was found in dense bushland on Thursday in the Karroun Hill Nature Reserve, about 35km from the main track.
"It's a miracle they've actually spotted the car, to be honest," Insp Glynn said earlier.
It was bogged in mud following rain and she had tried to free it but had apparently failed.
Authorities combed the surrounding area on foot and by air but were unable to find Ms Wilga.
Ms Wilga's mother previously pleaded for anyone with information about her daughter to contact authorities.
WA Premier Roger Cook said the news of Ms Wilga's survival "is nothing short of remarkable" and thanks emergency services and those who searched.
"We're yet to have the full picture of what happened, but tonight, we can all breathe a little easier knowing Carolina is safe and well," he posted on social media.
A "brave" German backpacker is recovering in hospital after being found alive following almost two weeks missing in the Australian outback.
Carolina Wilga, 26, was last seen at a general store in the Western Australian wheatbelt town of Beacon on June 29, some 300km northeast of Perth.
Her disappearance triggered a massive search after a desperate plea for help from her mother amid concerns for her daughter's safety.
Late on Friday afternoon, she was found walking on a bush track by a member of the public.
"She's obviously been through a great deal," WA Police Inspector Martin Glynn told reporters.
"She does have some injuries. She's been ravaged by mosquitoes."
Ms Wilga was flown to a hospital in Perth for medical treatment after spending days lost in tough terrain, where temperatures dropped to zero at night.
"I think once we do hear her story, it will be a remarkable story," Insp Glynn said, adding that it was a "great result" for the backpacker's family and those involved in the search.
"She's obviously coped in some amazing conditions.
"There's a very hostile environment out there, both from flora and fauna. It's a really, really challenging environment."
Insp Glynn said Ms Wilga had "covered a lot of ground" during her "amazing journey" and it was a testimony to her bravery.
Ms Wilga did not appear to have any serious injuries, but she had a lot of minor ones, he said.
"She's endured a lot ... (and is) in quite a fragile condition," he said.
Ms Wilga's Mitsubishi van was found in dense bushland on Thursday in the Karroun Hill Nature Reserve, about 35km from the main track.
"It's a miracle they've actually spotted the car, to be honest," Insp Glynn said earlier.
It was bogged in mud following rain and she had tried to free it but had apparently failed.
Authorities combed the surrounding area on foot and by air but were unable to find Ms Wilga.
Ms Wilga's mother previously pleaded for anyone with information about her daughter to contact authorities.
WA Premier Roger Cook said the news of Ms Wilga's survival "is nothing short of remarkable" and thanks emergency services and those who searched.
"We're yet to have the full picture of what happened, but tonight, we can all breathe a little easier knowing Carolina is safe and well," he posted on social media.
A "brave" German backpacker is recovering in hospital after being found alive following almost two weeks missing in the Australian outback.
Carolina Wilga, 26, was last seen at a general store in the Western Australian wheatbelt town of Beacon on June 29, some 300km northeast of Perth.
Her disappearance triggered a massive search after a desperate plea for help from her mother amid concerns for her daughter's safety.
Late on Friday afternoon, she was found walking on a bush track by a member of the public.
"She's obviously been through a great deal," WA Police Inspector Martin Glynn told reporters.
"She does have some injuries. She's been ravaged by mosquitoes."
Ms Wilga was flown to a hospital in Perth for medical treatment after spending days lost in tough terrain, where temperatures dropped to zero at night.
"I think once we do hear her story, it will be a remarkable story," Insp Glynn said, adding that it was a "great result" for the backpacker's family and those involved in the search.
"She's obviously coped in some amazing conditions.
"There's a very hostile environment out there, both from flora and fauna. It's a really, really challenging environment."
Insp Glynn said Ms Wilga had "covered a lot of ground" during her "amazing journey" and it was a testimony to her bravery.
Ms Wilga did not appear to have any serious injuries, but she had a lot of minor ones, he said.
"She's endured a lot ... (and is) in quite a fragile condition," he said.
Ms Wilga's Mitsubishi van was found in dense bushland on Thursday in the Karroun Hill Nature Reserve, about 35km from the main track.
"It's a miracle they've actually spotted the car, to be honest," Insp Glynn said earlier.
It was bogged in mud following rain and she had tried to free it but had apparently failed.
Authorities combed the surrounding area on foot and by air but were unable to find Ms Wilga.
Ms Wilga's mother previously pleaded for anyone with information about her daughter to contact authorities.
WA Premier Roger Cook said the news of Ms Wilga's survival "is nothing short of remarkable" and thanks emergency services and those who searched.
"We're yet to have the full picture of what happened, but tonight, we can all breathe a little easier knowing Carolina is safe and well," he posted on social media.
A "brave" German backpacker is recovering in hospital after being found alive following almost two weeks missing in the Australian outback.
Carolina Wilga, 26, was last seen at a general store in the Western Australian wheatbelt town of Beacon on June 29, some 300km northeast of Perth.
Her disappearance triggered a massive search after a desperate plea for help from her mother amid concerns for her daughter's safety.
Late on Friday afternoon, she was found walking on a bush track by a member of the public.
"She's obviously been through a great deal," WA Police Inspector Martin Glynn told reporters.
"She does have some injuries. She's been ravaged by mosquitoes."
Ms Wilga was flown to a hospital in Perth for medical treatment after spending days lost in tough terrain, where temperatures dropped to zero at night.
"I think once we do hear her story, it will be a remarkable story," Insp Glynn said, adding that it was a "great result" for the backpacker's family and those involved in the search.
"She's obviously coped in some amazing conditions.
"There's a very hostile environment out there, both from flora and fauna. It's a really, really challenging environment."
Insp Glynn said Ms Wilga had "covered a lot of ground" during her "amazing journey" and it was a testimony to her bravery.
Ms Wilga did not appear to have any serious injuries, but she had a lot of minor ones, he said.
"She's endured a lot ... (and is) in quite a fragile condition," he said.
Ms Wilga's Mitsubishi van was found in dense bushland on Thursday in the Karroun Hill Nature Reserve, about 35km from the main track.
"It's a miracle they've actually spotted the car, to be honest," Insp Glynn said earlier.
It was bogged in mud following rain and she had tried to free it but had apparently failed.
Authorities combed the surrounding area on foot and by air but were unable to find Ms Wilga.
Ms Wilga's mother previously pleaded for anyone with information about her daughter to contact authorities.
WA Premier Roger Cook said the news of Ms Wilga's survival "is nothing short of remarkable" and thanks emergency services and those who searched.
"We're yet to have the full picture of what happened, but tonight, we can all breathe a little easier knowing Carolina is safe and well," he posted on social media.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Herald Sun
43 minutes ago
- Herald Sun
‘Destroyed my life': Vladimir Putin's ‘secret daughter' slams him in cryptic post
Don't miss out on the headlines from Leaders. Followed categories will be added to My News. Russian President Vladimir Putin's alleged secret daughter has spoken out against her father in a cryptic post, condemning the man who 'destroyed' her and 'took millions of lives'. Elizaveta Krivonogikh, a 22-year-old art school graduate living in Paris who is believed to be the leader's youngest daughter, shared the messages on her private Telegram, in line with her increasing openness on Instagram as she's started to share more images of herself, The New York Post reported. 'It's liberating to be able to show my face to the world again,' she wrote, according to German magazine Bild. 'It reminds me of who I am and who destroyed my life.' The Telegram chat, named 'Art of Luiza', references her work pseudonym Luiza Rozova. Ms Krivonogikh didn't explicitly name Putin in either post, but has also never shot down the popular theories surrounding her true parentage. The budding artist was born in 2003 after a suspected affair between Putin and her mother, Svetlana, the President's then-housekeeper. The bombshell was first revealed after a 2020 investigation by Russian media outlet Proekt, citing Ms Krivonogikh's 'phenomenal resemblance' to Putin. He isn't listed on her birth certificate, but 'Vladimirovna' was included, translating to 'daughter of Vladimir'. In 2021, slain journalist and Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny exposed Ms Krivonogikh's Instagram, which showcased her life of luxury and her family's staggering wealth that many have attributed to their connection with the country's pesident. While Ms Krivonogikh originally celebrated life in the spotlight, she retreated after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2021 and her Instagram was suddenly shut down. She's since returned to the platform, but was more reserved in her posting at first, hiding her face in many photos. She's now seemingly changed her tune – and swapped sides on the devastating war after previously mourning her inability to 'make an extra lap around my beloved St Petersburg'. Ms Krivonogikh has since denounced her previous lifestyle of obscene wealth, speaking openly against her alleged father's actions in Ukraine. She also works in a Parisian art gallery that specialises in anti-war works. Ms Krivonogikh also adopted an extra pseudonym, Elizaveta Rudnova, inspired by Putin's late ally Oleg Rudnov – a cheeky stab at her elusive parentage. Still, critics of Putin haven't quite bought her reshaped image and insist that she shouldn't be working in a space where she could be interacting with Ukrainians, regardless of her stance. 'Am I really responsible for the activities of my family, who can't even hear me?' Ms Krivonogikh wrote. Putin is also rumoured to share two secret sons, a 10-year-old and a six-year-old, with his former gymnast lover and Olympic gold medallist Alina Kabaeva. This article originally appeared on The New York Post and was reproduced with permission Originally published as 'Destroyed my life': Vladimir Putin's 'secret daughter' slams him in cryptic post


7NEWS
3 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Kmart dragged into landmark legal case over alleged links to Uyghur forced labor in China
In an Australian legal first, Uyghur community leaders have launched Federal Court action demanding transparency from retail giant Kmart over its potential links to forced labour in China. The Australian Uyghur Tangritagh Women's Association (AUTWA) has filed a motion demanding Kmart hand over internal documents related to two of its clothing suppliers allegedly involved in forced Uyghur labour in the Xinjiang region. Both suppliers are listed in Kmart's 2024 and 2025 factory disclosures, AUTWA said. The legal action, led by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers and supported by the Human Rights Law Centre, aims to test whether Kmart's ethical sourcing claims hold up under scrutiny. Speaking outside the court in Melbourne on Tuesday, AUTWA President Ramila Chanisheff said the case marks a historic milestone. 'We just filed a document into the Federal Court asking for records from Kmart about two supply chains that could be linked to Uyghur forced labor,' she told 'It is the first of its kind in Australia to bring a case against an Australian retailer, and it's not just a small retailer, it's actually a major. 'We want to make sure that the products that are made in China and sold in Kmart are not linked to forced labour.' Kmart publicly markets itself as an ethical business. 'We aim to provide great products at the lowest prices for our customers while respecting human rights,' the retailer states on its website. Kmart said it is continually working to improve its ethical sourcing standards and processes, and is collaborating with suppliers, NGOs, trade unions, and government representatives to help improve working conditions in the regions where it sources its products. The court action now centres around whether the company may have breached Australian Consumer Law by engaging in misleading or deceptive conduct about the sourcing of its products. AUTWA is seeking access to documents that could demonstrate what Kmart knew — or should have known — about the origins of products made in factories with ties to Xinjiang, where widespread human rights abuses, including state-sponsored forced labour, have been well-documented. 'If it's found that Kmart's products are linked to forced labour, they must divest from those supply chains, not just in Xinjiang, but across China, where Uyghur people are often trafficked into mainland labour camps,' Chanisheff said. The goal is not only to hold Kmart accountable, but to put other industries on notice, she added. 'Australians deserve to make informed choices.' Retailers on notice Maurice Blackburn principal lawyer Jennifer Kanis, who is leading the case, said the legal action aims to hold Kmart accountable for its ethical sourcing claims. She said the company must be transparent about its supply chain practices, especially given the known risks of forced labour in Xinjiang. 'Kmart tells customers that it supports ethical sourcing and the protection of human rights — but we know there are credible links between two of its factories and the use of Uyghur forced labour in Xinjiang,' Kanis said. 'Documents will be sought from Kmart to determine whether it engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct about this issue.' She added the Federal Court will be asked to compel Kmart to provide evidence of what due diligence it has conducted on suppliers with links to the region. Associate legal director at the Human Rights Law Centre Freya Dinshaw said the case underscores significant weaknesses in Australia's approach to modern slavery. 'The alarm bells have been ringing for a long time in relation to the risk of forced labour in the Chinese garment sector, and Australian retailers have been on notice,' she said. 'This court case is about Kmart coming clean on whether it is really doing everything it claims to be doing to ensure that its products are slavery free.' Dinshaw argued it should not be up to the public to force companies into transparency through legal action and called for stronger laws that require businesses to investigate and prevent forced labour. She also noted that, unlike countries such as the US and Canada, Australia has not banned the importation of goods made with forced labour, allowing them to reach store shelves unchecked. What happens next? The Federal Court will consider AUTWA's request in the coming weeks. If successful, the outcome could pave the way for further legal action against Kmart or other major retailers. 'Kmart, and all companies, must ensure they are not profiting from forced labour in China.,' Chanisheff said. The case is expected to fuel growing public pressure on retailers to lift the veil on their offshore operations.


Sky News AU
6 hours ago
- Sky News AU
'Don't be stupid, confess to ASIO': Ex-Chinese spy calls out Beijing's Australian espionage efforts, welcomes recent arrest
An ex-Chinese spy has welcomed the arrest of an Australian woman for espionage-related offences as he called out Beijing's intelligence and foreign influence campaigns. On Monday, the Australian Federal Police announced a woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been arrested and charged with one count of reckless foreign interference. The woman, who is a permanent Australian resident, allegedly worked to "covertly gather information" about Canberra's Guan Yin Citta Buddhist association on behalf of China's Public Security Bureau. The Chinese Communist Party considers the Buddhist group, which also has members in mainland China, a cult. An ex-Chinese spy has welcomed the arrest of an Australian woman for espionage-related offences as he called out Beijing's intelligence and foreign influence campaigns. Picture: Getty Images In an exclusive interview with Sky News Australia's Cheng Lei, former Chinese spy, Eric, hailed the arrest, saying it was important Australian authorities worked to counter Beijing's efforts to gather intelligence and exert influence at the community level. "What I've noticed in this case is the change to taking action on a spy that's working in a Chinese community organisation, I think it may be the first time," he said. "We know the Chinese government has invested significantly in local community organisations in order to quash dissidents, but also to affect voting and politics. So investing in local communities to counter that is the right thing." Asked whether the woman was acting alone or as part of a larger network of spies, Eric suggested evidence provided by the AFP pointed to the former - although he also warned Beijing had likely established a "large" presence in Australia. On Monday, the Australian Federal Police announced a woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been arrested and charged with one count of reckless foreign interference. Picture: Supplied Commenting on the CCP's objectives more broadly, the former spy explained foreign agents had two main aims when conducting operations. "The CCP's spying in Australia takes place in two tracks. One is to quieten criticism against the Chinese government, to ensure its governance security, another is in geopolitics, that may include business, technology, military intel," he said. "China views Australia as important role in geopolitical terms, because we all know if there is military conflict between the US and China in the west pacific, Australia's location is critical. "So the CCP would invest a lot of resources to affect Australian politics and extract military secrets, to ensure Australia would remain neutral, or to defeat the US and Australia's allies." Eric added Chinese spies would work to "foster and develop agents over a long time" in order to avoid detection, including by offering financial incentives to those they believed had valuable information. Asked what any Australian resident being manipulated or approached by China should do, the former spy was unequivocal. "I would say, don't be stupid, first you may be arrested (the) Chinese government would never say 'you're our guys', forget it," he said. "China may start a war in the future, do you want to live in a war country? Don't be stupid, confess to ASIO or police if you are a spy."