Backpacker found alive after 12 days lost in Oz outback breaks silence to reveal dramatic reason she abandoned her car
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
A GERMAN backpacker who spend nearly two weeks lost in the Australian outback has broken her silence following her rescue.
Carolina Wilga thanked her rescuers as she revealed the reason she left the safety of her vehicle in rural Western Australia.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
9
Carolina Wilga has broken her silence following her dramatic rescue
Credit: Western Australia Police Force
9
She revealed the reason she left the safety of her vehicle
Credit: Facebook/@ExtremeCouponingAndBargainsUK
9
She was found alive and airlifted to hospital on Friday
Credit: 7NEWS
9
The backpacker has been recovering in a Perth hospital after her gruelling ordeal stuck in the harsh terrain of the outback.
She spent 11 nights wandering barefoot through the wilderness after abandoning her van when it got stuck in Karroun Hill Nature Reserve.
The 26-year-old was found in a chance encounter by farmer Tania Henley on Friday.
But the backpacker has now shared the reason why she left her van behind to spend nearly two weeks on a perilous trek through the outback.
read more in world news
EVIL KILLER Russia's most wanted serial killer, who 'murdered 100 women' could be dead
Wilga revealed she had lost control of her vehicle and hit her head when it crashed, leaving her in a state of confusion.
She said: "Some people might wonder why I even left my car, even though I had water, food, and clothing there.
"The answer is: I lost control of the car and rolled down a slope. In the crash, I hit my head significantly.
"As a result of the accident, I left my car in a state of confusion and got lost.
"I am simply beyond grateful to have survived."
Before her disappearance, Wilga was last seen June 29 at a general store in Beacon, 186 miles north-east of Perth.
Missing backpacker found ALIVE after nearly two weeks wandering Oz bushland
She was then seen driving away in a black and silver Mitsubishi Delica van.
Having spent the last two years backpacking across Australia, she recently worked at mine sites in regional WA.
Her chance rescue came when she was spotted walking along on an unsealed access road.
Wilga had spent nearly two weeks with minimal supplies, even resorting to drinking water from puddles and seeking shelter in caves to survive the outback's unforgiving conditions.
Cops had found her bogged down vehicle less than 24 hours before she was rescued.
Wilga shared her thanks to her rescuers from "the depth of my soul".
9
She had not been heard from since Sunday, 29 June
Credit: Western Australia Police Force
9
She was found in a chance encounter by farmer Tania Henley
Credit: 7News
She said: "I am deeply impressed by the courage, helpfulness, and warmth that has been shown to me here.
"Western Australia has taught me what it really means to be part of a true community.
"Here, humanity, solidarity, and care for one another are what truly matter — and in the end, that's what counts most.
"I am certain that I survived only thanks to this incredible outpouring of support.
"The thought of all the people who believed in me, searched for me, and kept hoping for me gave me the strength to carry on during my darkest moments.
"For this, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Bush survival expert Kelli Jackson told ABC Radio Perth that anyone caught in a similar situation should always stay with their vehicle.
"It's no surprise that people leave their vehicle," she said.
"If you've been through any emergency situation, a car accident or something like that, you might remember how things go in slow motion."
She added that the shock people feel can make them do "really weird things" like throwing their gear away or running in a random direction.
9
Police issued a public appeal for help on July 10 in their search for the 26-year-old
Credit: AFP
9
A road sign stands near Beacon, Western Australia, Friday, July 11, 2025, near where she was last seen before disappearing
Credit: AP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
23 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Man who killed British backpacker Peter Falconio in Australia dies
Bradley John Murdoch was convicted in 2005 of murdering Mr Falconio, 28, and assaulting his girlfriend Joanne Lees at gunpoint on a remote stretch of road near Barrow Creek in Australia's Northern Territory on July 14 2001. Mr Falconio and Ms Lees, both from Yorkshire, were travelling across the country in a camper van when they were ambushed by Murdoch on the Stuart Highway, an isolated road that runs through the centre of Australia. Murdoch was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for at least 28 years. Murdoch, 67, was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in 2019 and was moved to palliative care from Alice Springs Correctional Centre last month, according to local media reports. The Northern Territory Department of Corrections confirmed that Murdoch died in hospital. A spokesperson said: 'I can confirm that Bradley Murdoch passed away last night in the palliative care unit at Alice Springs Hospital. 'The death will be subject to investigation by the Northern Territory Coroner. 'No further comment at this time.' Mr Falconio and Ms Lees had been driving near the tiny settlement of Barrow Creek, around 188 miles north of Alice Springs, when Murdoch pulled up beside them claiming to have seen sparks coming from their van. He shot Mr Falconio in the head as he inspected the vehicle, before forcing Ms Lees into his vehicle and binding her wrists with cable ties. She managed to escape, hiding in the Outback for hours before flagging down a passing truck. During the trial, prosecutors argued that Murdoch was likely to have disposed of the backpacker's body somewhere in the vast, remote expanse of desert between Alice Springs and Broome, covering more than 1,200 miles. Despite repeated searches, Mr Falconio's body has never been found. Ms Lees, who returned to the UK, told Australian current affairs programme 60 Minutes in 2017 that she still wanted to 'bring him home'. 'Pete lost his life on that night, but I lost mine too,' she said at the time. 'I'll never be fully at peace if Pete's not found, but I accept that that is a possibility.' Murdoch lodged several unsuccessful appeals over the years, with Australia's highest court refusing to hear his case in 2007. Last month police announced a new 500,000 Australian dollar (about £240,000) reward for information leading to the discovery of Mr Falconio's remains.
Daily Mirror
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Bradley John Murdoch dead: Murderer never told police where he hid his victim's body
A killer who murdered a British backpacker has died - after never telling authorities where he hid his victim's body. Bradley John Murdoch, 67, remained stubborn to the very end and, following his death of throat cancer, now takes his secrets to his grave. His deceit is said to have devastated Peter Falconio's family as no traces of the 28-year-old man's body were ever found following his murder on July 14, 2001. Murdoch, who at the time of the death in arid Central Australia was an interstate drug runner, became known as the "Outback Killer" and was only convicted of murder in December 2005. He consistently maintained his innocence and did not help authorities search for Mr Falconio's remains. But authorities have today confirmed Murdoch's death of throat cancer, with which he was diagnosed in 2019 in jail. His condition deteriorated this year and the murderer was transferred to the palliative care unit of the Alice Springs Hospital in Central Australia, where he passed away on Tuesday. The death leaves the mystery of the whereabouts of Mr Falconio's body unsolved. He and girlfriend Joanne Lees, whom Murdoch tried to kidnap, were on a long backpacking trip, which had seen the couple already visit Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia. They were travelling in an orange Volkswagen T2 Kombi Camper van, and became aware they were being followed along a rural road near Barrow Creek. The couple, who had met in a nightclub in Hepworth, West Yorkshire several years prior, stopped their campervan on a dark and remote highway. Ms Lees, then 27, watched her boyfriend leave the van to inspect a supposedly sparking exhaust pipe. She testified that she heard a gunshot and never saw her boyfriend again. Murdoch, an imposing 6ft 4'', then bound Ms Lee's wrists with cable ties before she managed to escape and hid in the desert scrub for hours. She testified that she watched Murdoch searching for her with a flashlight and his dog. Ms Lees later waved down a truck and raised the alarm. The crime captured global attention and was one of the inspirations for the 2005 Australian horror movie Wolf Creek, about a serial killer who preyed on backpackers and left a single witness who became a suspect. Sutton Park death: Tragedy as body of teenage boy is pulled out of lake Ms Lees, who wrote about her ordeal in her 2006 memoir No Turning Back, complained that police treated her as a suspect in the years before Murdoch was charged. A court order prevented the movie's release in the Northern Territory during Murdoch's trial, fearing it could influence jurors. Murdoch, who was arrested in 2003 in the case, was not accused of any other killings. Last month, police doubled the reward for information leading to the location of Falconio's remains to 500,000 Australian dollars (£245,000), following news that Murdoch was in palliative care. "Police still hold out hope that someone may be able to provide some vital information to assist in this search," Police Commander Mark Grieve said in June. He added that over the years he spent in prison, Murdoch had not revealed the whereabouts of his victim's remains. Colleen Gwynne, a former police officer who led the investigation at the time of Mr Falconio's disappearance, said Murdoch might have panicked after Lees escaped and in his confusion forgot what he did with the body. Mr Falconio was the third of four sons in a family, from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. He and Ms Lees moved to Brighton, East Sussex, in 1998 when Mr Falconio began a degree course in building construction management. The young man died weeks after graduating.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Putin launches missiles and drones attack in night of hell for Ukraine with dozens of explosions rocking Kharkiv
The city of Kharkiv was reportedly hit with a 20-minute wave of deadly destruction RUSSIAN BLITZ Putin launches missiles and drones attack in night of hell for Ukraine with dozens of explosions rocking Kharkiv Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) VLADIMIR Putin has unleashed another night of deadly strikes on Ukraine leaving at least two dead and dozens wounded. Russian drones and missiles attacked several areas of Ukraine with the city of Kharkiv being the worst impacted by the terrifying barrage. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 A Russian drone attack hit Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine overnight Credit: Alamy 4 The city of Kharkiv was reportedly hit with a 20-minute wave of destruction Credit: x 4 The city was burning after the relentless strikes Credit: Alamy Both deaths came in Ukraine's second largest city, near to the town of Kupiansk, an area which has been under constant Russian attack for months. The victims were reportedly 67 and 69 years old. Kharkiv regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said at least 17 explosions were recorded in just 20 minutes. Chilling images show the night sky lit up after several buildings were directly impacted amd left up in flames. Putin's evil forces are said to have knocked out power and water supplies across the country. The southeastern town of Kryvyi Rih and the capital Kyiv were also impacted. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said air defence units had gone into action but there were no reports of casualties. The latest attacks are set to anger Donald Trump even more after he imposed a strict peace ultimatum on Putin on Monday. He issued a blistering crackdown on Moscow as he pledged to hit Russia with 100 percent tariffs if they don't agree to a peace deal within 50 days. Trump also said he is "very unhappy" with the despot over his incessant bombing of Ukrainian civilians. The US President also agreed to supply weapons to help Kyiv in the war in the hopes of driving Putin to the negotiating table. Putin defies Trump's ultimatum and BOMBARDS Ukraine – as Kremlin mouthpiece warns Russia will 'turn Kyiv into Hiroshima' He vowed to send weapons compromising of "everything" in his arsenal in order to get Putin back into line after weeks of the tyrant incessantly bombing Ukraine. One of the proposed weapons which could be included in the package deal is America's joint air-to-surface standoff cruise missiles (JASSM). A snarling Putin is yet to directly respond but the Kremlin's reaction to Trump's latest posture was icy. They mocked the deadline with sources saying they may now demand even more Ukrainian territory instead of laying down arms. Russia will instead keep terrorising Ukrainian civilians during the seven-week period instead of surrendering in any form, they added. And within hours of Trump's tariff threat, they made good on that promise. Russia launched a fresh blitz across Ukraine Monday night, striking sites in Kharkiv, Sumy and Zaporizhzhia. Drones targeted a university in Sumy, wounding a 14-year-old girl and a 19-year-old student, while a missile hit a medical facility in Shostka. In response, Ukraine launched its own drone blitz across southwest Russia, injuring civilians and damaging homes and industrial sites in Voronezh and Lipetsk.
