German backpacker remains in hospital after outback ordeal
The 26-year-old is in a stable condition at Fiona Stanley Hospital after her traumatic ordeal ended when she flagged down a passing motorist on Friday afternoon.
Police on Saturday said Ms Wilga became 'lost and disorientated' while exploring the Karroun Hill nature reserve.
When trying to look for her way out, she later lost control of her Mitsubishi van.
After spending just one day with her van, which became bogged and 'mechanically unsound' about 36km from any track, Ms Wilga braved the elements for 11 nights on foot. German backpacker Carolina Wilga was found on Friday in WA's remote outback. Credit: 7NEWS / 7NEWS
She survived by drinking water from puddles, sleeping in a cave and eating the minimal food left in her van.
Across 11 days, the young tourist ventured 24km west from her vehicle by following the sun, before managing to flag down Tania French, a long-time Wheatbelt resident, as she was driving on Mouroubra Road around Bimbijy.
Ms Wilga was then taken under the arm of police — who sent extensive resources to the area — after she was located. Carolina Wilga was found alive on Friday afternoon. Credit: 7NEWS
She was flown to Perth for medical treatment and was receiving ongoing care on Sunday, having spent two nights in hospital.
The 26-year-old was ravaged by mosquitoes, dehydrated, hungry, and sustained cuts and bruises before she was found.
Ms Wilga may spend several more days in hospital.
Grave fears were held for Ms Wilga, who had not contacted friends since June 29 — the same day, she was captured on CCTV driving through the Beacon townsite, about 330km north-east of Perth.
Detective Acting Inspector Jessica Securo, officer-in-charge of the homicide squad, said Ms Wilga had 'some open travel plans just to explore parts of WA and then further head north and towards the east coast' when she became lost. Detective Acting Inspector Jessica Securo - Officer in Charge of Homicide Squad, held a press conference in relation to Carolina Wilga on Saturday. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The Sunday Times
'She is still in disbelief that she was able to survive,' she said.
'It's sheer luck (she was found).
'The area out there, there's mixed terrain — It can be quite dangerous, if you don't know what you're doing, or where you were going, it's very easy to get lost in that area.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
6 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Teen girl fighting for life after horror crash at Burswood car meet
A 17-year-old girl is fighting for life after being struck by a car at a car meet on Monday night. The teen was trying to cross Camfield Drive in in Burswood, WA, just before 10pm, which was lined by spectators, when she was hit by a black Honda Civic sedan. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today She suffered multiple broken bones and was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital in a critical condition. Mobile phone footage captured two cars speeding past spectators gathered outside the Crown complex. Police said the incident occurred as a pre-arranged car meet was dispersing. 'We'll be alleging excessive speed was involved, and other organisers have canceled similar meets or events later this week,' Police Commissioner Col Blanch said. The meet was part of a regular event known as Mondaymeets, which draws large crowds of car enthusiasts each week. Blanch said police were present earlier in the evening and had impounded a vehicle just before the crash. 'I think what we will do as a result is crank down even more and make sure that the behaviour of these organised car meets ... what we don't support is reckless and dangerous behavior that results in these tragedies,' he said. The 25-year-old male driver of the Honda was not injured and is assisting police with their investigation.
The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Famine to feast for German backpacker in outback ordeal
A German backpacker who spent almost two weeks lost in the outback after abandoning her bogged van lost more than 10kg during the ordeal. Carolina Wilga was found by a driver on Friday after disappearing on June 29 near the remote WA town of Beacon, about 300km northeast of Perth. The 26-year-old returned to social media on Monday night, posting photos from her hospital bed in Perth. Ms Wilga playfully smiles while holding a bunch of flowers in one image, surrounded by a vast array of food. "When you need to gain 12 kilograms back," the Instagram caption read. The second image is a close-up of the tasty delicacies, including chocolate and pastries. "Thanks to the German Consulate," its caption said. Ms Wilga suffered cuts, bruises, dehydration and fatigue during her ordeal in bushland, where overnight temperatures fell to almost freezing. In a statement on Monday, she thanked her rescuers and explained why she left her Mitsubishi van, which police found about 35km from a main track in a dense bush nature reserve. "Some people might wonder why I even left my car, even though I had water, food and clothing there," she said in the statement issued by WA Police. "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." Ms Wilga also thanked the driver who found her, describing the woman named Tania as a "rescuer and angel". "Western Australia has taught me what it really means to be part of a true community," she said. She believes she survived because of an "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," she said. "For this, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart." Police Commissioner Col Blanch said Ms Wilga's survival was remarkable given the amount of time she had spent in the wilderness. "That's not something you would ordinarily expect, particularly in regional WA," Mr Blanch told 6PR radio. "To meet Tania on the road just at that moment (was) extraordinary luck." Police previously said Ms Wilga spent just one night with her van after it got bogged in the Karroun Hill Nature Reserve bushland. She followed the sun and walked 24km west, thinking that would be her best bet of finding a road. She had minimal food and water and was in the elements for 11 nights. A German backpacker who spent almost two weeks lost in the outback after abandoning her bogged van lost more than 10kg during the ordeal. Carolina Wilga was found by a driver on Friday after disappearing on June 29 near the remote WA town of Beacon, about 300km northeast of Perth. The 26-year-old returned to social media on Monday night, posting photos from her hospital bed in Perth. Ms Wilga playfully smiles while holding a bunch of flowers in one image, surrounded by a vast array of food. "When you need to gain 12 kilograms back," the Instagram caption read. The second image is a close-up of the tasty delicacies, including chocolate and pastries. "Thanks to the German Consulate," its caption said. Ms Wilga suffered cuts, bruises, dehydration and fatigue during her ordeal in bushland, where overnight temperatures fell to almost freezing. In a statement on Monday, she thanked her rescuers and explained why she left her Mitsubishi van, which police found about 35km from a main track in a dense bush nature reserve. "Some people might wonder why I even left my car, even though I had water, food and clothing there," she said in the statement issued by WA Police. "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." Ms Wilga also thanked the driver who found her, describing the woman named Tania as a "rescuer and angel". "Western Australia has taught me what it really means to be part of a true community," she said. She believes she survived because of an "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," she said. "For this, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart." Police Commissioner Col Blanch said Ms Wilga's survival was remarkable given the amount of time she had spent in the wilderness. "That's not something you would ordinarily expect, particularly in regional WA," Mr Blanch told 6PR radio. "To meet Tania on the road just at that moment (was) extraordinary luck." Police previously said Ms Wilga spent just one night with her van after it got bogged in the Karroun Hill Nature Reserve bushland. She followed the sun and walked 24km west, thinking that would be her best bet of finding a road. She had minimal food and water and was in the elements for 11 nights. A German backpacker who spent almost two weeks lost in the outback after abandoning her bogged van lost more than 10kg during the ordeal. Carolina Wilga was found by a driver on Friday after disappearing on June 29 near the remote WA town of Beacon, about 300km northeast of Perth. The 26-year-old returned to social media on Monday night, posting photos from her hospital bed in Perth. Ms Wilga playfully smiles while holding a bunch of flowers in one image, surrounded by a vast array of food. "When you need to gain 12 kilograms back," the Instagram caption read. The second image is a close-up of the tasty delicacies, including chocolate and pastries. "Thanks to the German Consulate," its caption said. Ms Wilga suffered cuts, bruises, dehydration and fatigue during her ordeal in bushland, where overnight temperatures fell to almost freezing. In a statement on Monday, she thanked her rescuers and explained why she left her Mitsubishi van, which police found about 35km from a main track in a dense bush nature reserve. "Some people might wonder why I even left my car, even though I had water, food and clothing there," she said in the statement issued by WA Police. "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." Ms Wilga also thanked the driver who found her, describing the woman named Tania as a "rescuer and angel". "Western Australia has taught me what it really means to be part of a true community," she said. She believes she survived because of an "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," she said. "For this, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart." Police Commissioner Col Blanch said Ms Wilga's survival was remarkable given the amount of time she had spent in the wilderness. "That's not something you would ordinarily expect, particularly in regional WA," Mr Blanch told 6PR radio. "To meet Tania on the road just at that moment (was) extraordinary luck." Police previously said Ms Wilga spent just one night with her van after it got bogged in the Karroun Hill Nature Reserve bushland. She followed the sun and walked 24km west, thinking that would be her best bet of finding a road. She had minimal food and water and was in the elements for 11 nights. A German backpacker who spent almost two weeks lost in the outback after abandoning her bogged van lost more than 10kg during the ordeal. Carolina Wilga was found by a driver on Friday after disappearing on June 29 near the remote WA town of Beacon, about 300km northeast of Perth. The 26-year-old returned to social media on Monday night, posting photos from her hospital bed in Perth. Ms Wilga playfully smiles while holding a bunch of flowers in one image, surrounded by a vast array of food. "When you need to gain 12 kilograms back," the Instagram caption read. The second image is a close-up of the tasty delicacies, including chocolate and pastries. "Thanks to the German Consulate," its caption said. Ms Wilga suffered cuts, bruises, dehydration and fatigue during her ordeal in bushland, where overnight temperatures fell to almost freezing. In a statement on Monday, she thanked her rescuers and explained why she left her Mitsubishi van, which police found about 35km from a main track in a dense bush nature reserve. "Some people might wonder why I even left my car, even though I had water, food and clothing there," she said in the statement issued by WA Police. "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." Ms Wilga also thanked the driver who found her, describing the woman named Tania as a "rescuer and angel". "Western Australia has taught me what it really means to be part of a true community," she said. She believes she survived because of an "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," she said. "For this, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart." Police Commissioner Col Blanch said Ms Wilga's survival was remarkable given the amount of time she had spent in the wilderness. "That's not something you would ordinarily expect, particularly in regional WA," Mr Blanch told 6PR radio. "To meet Tania on the road just at that moment (was) extraordinary luck." Police previously said Ms Wilga spent just one night with her van after it got bogged in the Karroun Hill Nature Reserve bushland. She followed the sun and walked 24km west, thinking that would be her best bet of finding a road. She had minimal food and water and was in the elements for 11 nights.
West Australian
11 hours ago
- West Australian
Rescued backpacker lost 12kg during outback ordeal
A German backpacker who spent almost two weeks lost in the outback after abandoning her bogged van lost more than 10 kilograms during her ordeal. Carolina Wilga was found by a driver on Friday, after disappearing on June 29 near the remote WA town of Beacon, about 300km northeast of Perth. The 26-year-old returned to social media on Monday night, posting photos from her hospital bed in Perth. Ms Wilga is playfully smiling and holding a bunch of flowers in one image, surrounded by a vast array of food. "When you need to gain 12 kilograms back," the Instagram caption read. The second image is a close-up of the tasty delicacies, including chocolate and pastries. "Thanks to the German Consulate," the caption said. Ms Wilga suffered cuts, bruises, dehydration and fatigue during her ordeal in bushland, where overnight temperatures fell to almost zero. In a statement on Monday, she thanked her rescuers and explained why she left her Mitsubishi van, which police found about 35km from a main track in a dense bush nature reserve. "Some people might wonder why I even left my car, even though I had water, food and clothing there," she said in the statement issued by WA Police. "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." Ms Wilga also thanked the driver who found her, describing the woman named Tania as a "rescuer and angel". "Western Australia has taught me what it really means to be part of a true community," she said. She believes she survived because of an "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," she said. "For this, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart." Police previously said Ms Wilga spent just one night with her van after it got bogged in the Karroun Hill Nature Reserve bushland. She followed the sun and walked 24km west, thinking that would be her best bet of finding a road. She had minimal food and water and was in the elements for 11 nights.
