Carolina Wilga: German backpacker discharged from Evangelical Hospital

West Australian

4 days ago

Backpacker Carolina Wilga has been discharged from a German hospital, almost two weeks after she was found missing in WA's outback.
Evangelical Hospital spokesperson Kathrin Simonis on Thursday confirmed Ms Wilga was 'no longer admitted in this hospital', according to News Corp.
The hospital is located in her family's hometown, Castrop-Rauxe, about 70km north-east of Dusseldorf.
German newspaper BILD reported Ms Wilga had touched down at Dusseldorf Airport on Sunday afternoon, where she was escorted in a private ambulance to Evangelical Hospital.
The 26-year-old was met by a nurse who — with the assistance of bodyguards — helped her into a wheelchair.
A spokesperson for Castrop-Rauxel City's mayoral office said Mayor Rajko Kravanja was 'really, really happy' Ms Wilga was found safe and well.
'He was extremely moved by the entire story with Carolina, but it wasn't of course just about the mayor, it was the whole population here, the people of our town were really moved and and really concerned,' a spokesperson told the masthead on Thursday.
'We are now all so happy that it has ended this way, and that Carolina is now back here in Castrop-Rauxel, and back with her family.'
Ms Wilga miraculously survived 11 nights alone in the remote Wheatbelt bush after her crashing her car, hitting her head and wandering off in a state of confusion.
She survived by drinking rainwater from puddles and sleeping in a cave before she was spotted by local farmer, Tania French.
Ms Wilga spent four nights recovering in Fiona Stanley Hospital before being discharged last Wednesday afternoon.
In a statement, Ms Wilga thanked the WA community for their 'outpouring of support'.
'Western Australia has taught me what it really means to be part of a true community,' she said.
'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.'
Ms Wilga farewelled Perth in a touching Instagram post at the weekend.
'Reunion with the ocean and a great goodbye to Perth with loooots of hugs ❤️ love you all,' she captioned the since deleted post.
She shared several photos of her time in hospital, at Cottesloe Beach with friends, and a front page of The West Australian that featured her dramatic ordeal.
Speculation is mounting Ms Wilga may have signed an exclusive deal to tell her story to a German television network.