Latest news with #GermanConsulate
Daily Mail
17 hours ago
- Daily Mail
German backpacker who survived nearly two weeks lost in the Australian wilderness reveals new health update from hospital
A German backpacker who spent 12 days lost in the West Australian 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. For the first time since her miraculous discovery, the 26-year-old returned to social media on Tuesday in a series of posts shared from the bed of a Perth hospital. Ms Wilga playfully smiled 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. Police triggered a desperate search for the missing backpacker by land and air after friends and family reported her missing. She was last seen at about midday on June 29 at a general store in Beacon, a small town about 300km north-east of Perth. Authorities found her van abandoned in the Karroun Hill area - about 50km northeast - on Thursday with fears the young backpacker may have met a grim end. On Friday, she was found walking barefoot on an unsealed access road by local farmer Tania Henley about 24km from her car. In a statement shared by WA Police on Monday, Ms Wilga thanked Ms Henley as a 'rescuer and angel'. She also recounted the events leading to her discovery. '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.' Police have revealed Ms Wilga was able to survive the 11 nights in the remote outback by drinking water from puddles and rationing the limited food she'd brought with her. She found whatever shelter she could at night to protect herself from freezing conditions, including a cave. Ms Wilga suffered cuts, bruises, dehydration and fatigue during her ordeal in bushland, where overnight temperatures fell to almost freezing. 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.' Family and friends of Ms Wilga rejoiced at the news of her finally being found on Friday. Five of her friends were waiting for her outside the hospital and told reporters they planned to take her out for a pub feed once she recovered. 'We just heard from the news that she was found and alive, which had everyone excited,' friend and fellow traveller Miranda told the West Australian. She said Ms Wilga's parents 'couldn't believe' their daughter had been found. 'They almost couldn't believe it, but yeah, they were just overwhelmed with happiness,' she said. Ms Wilga 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.
News.com.au
a day ago
- News.com.au
Backpacker Carolina Wilga reveals what she lost during miracle survival in WA outback
A German backpacker who miraculously survived 12 days in the remote andunforgivingWestern Australian bush has revealed she lost 12kg during the ordeal. Carolina Wilga issued a statement on Monday thanking the community for their search efforts after she was last seen in a small Wheatbelt town on June 29. Sharing a picture on social media from her hospital bed, the backpacker was surrounded by pastries, chips, tea and food as she posed for the camera. 'When you need to gain the 12 kilograms back,' she captioned the social media image. Dressed in a Billabong shirt and holding a bouquet of flowers, Ms Wilga said 'thanks to the German Consulate' for the gifts she received. In her first statement since the ordeal, the 26-year-old explained she got lost after losing control of her car, suffering a significant hit to her head in the accident leaving her in a state of confusion. 'First and foremost, I want to express a huge thank you from the bottom of my heart – a thank you that truly comes from the depth of my soul! For all the incredible supports during the search for me,' Ms Wilga said. Sharing the message from hospital, Ms Wilga said she was 'grateful to have survived', thanking her 'rescuer' and 'angel' Tania Henley who found her walking along the road on July 11. Authorities located Ms Wilga's car stuck in soft sand in Karroun Hill last week with no sign of the backpacker herself. Ms Wilga revealed she left her car in a state of confusion after a crash becoming lost in the remote nature reserve. 'Some people might wonder why I even left my car, even though I had water, food, and clothing there,' Ms Wilga said. '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.' Reflecting on her experience, Ms Wilga said despite being far from home she now feels deeply connected to the community that rallied around her during her ordeal. 'Previously, I didn't know where my place was in a culture on the other side of the world to my own, but now, I feel a part of it. 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. 'Especially to the police investigators, searchers, the German Consulate, the medical staff and the wonderful nurses who took care of me with so much compassion. 'My deepest thanks also go to every single person who simply thought of me.'
CNN
2 days ago
- CNN
German tourist describes 12-day ordeal, lost in Australian wilderness
A German backpacker who survived 12 days lost in Australia's remote outback has said she is 'beyond grateful to have survived.' In her first public statement since being found alive on Friday, 26-year-old Carolina Wilga said she 'hit her head significantly' when she crashed her car and became lost after abandoning it in 'a state of confusion.' Wilga was found alive on Friday afternoon, nearly two weeks after she disappeared in the bushland. According to the Associated Press, the crew of a police helicopter spotted her vehicle Thursday in wilderness in the Karroun Hill Nature Reserve, 36 kilometers (22 miles) north of the town of Beacon. 'Some people might wonder why I even left my car, even though I had water, food, and clothing there,' she wrote in a statement released by Western Australia Police Force on Monday. '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.' Wilga's message, shared by Western Australia Police Force on Facebook, expressed thanks to those who searched for her, as well as to medical staff and the German consulate. 'I want to express a huge thank you from the bottom of my heart — a thank you that truly comes from the depth of my soul,' 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. For this, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.' According to AP, Western Australia Police Force Inspector Martin Glynn said a member of the public found her wandering on a forest trail late Friday. She was in a 'fragile' state but had no serious injuries and was flown to a hospital in Perth for treatment, Glynn told reporters. 'You know, she's obviously coped in some amazing conditions,' he said. 'There's a very hostile environment out there, both from flora and fauna. It's a really, really challenging environment to cope in.' The reserve where Wilga was lost covers more than 300,000 hectares (740,000 acres), according to AP.
CNN
2 days ago
- CNN
German tourist describes 12-day ordeal, lost in Australian wilderness
A German backpacker who survived 12 days lost in Australia's remote outback has said she is 'beyond grateful to have survived.' In her first public statement since being found alive on Friday, 26-year-old Carolina Wilga said she 'hit her head significantly' when she crashed her car and became lost after abandoning it in 'a state of confusion.' Wilga was found alive on Friday afternoon, nearly two weeks after she disappeared in the bushland. According to the Associated Press, the crew of a police helicopter spotted her vehicle Thursday in wilderness in the Karroun Hill Nature Reserve, 36 kilometers (22 miles) north of the town of Beacon. 'Some people might wonder why I even left my car, even though I had water, food, and clothing there,' she wrote in a statement released by Western Australia Police Force on Monday. '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.' Wilga's message, shared by Western Australia Police Force on Facebook, expressed thanks to those who searched for her, as well as to medical staff and the German consulate. 'I want to express a huge thank you from the bottom of my heart — a thank you that truly comes from the depth of my soul,' 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. For this, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.' According to AP, Western Australia Police Force Inspector Martin Glynn said a member of the public found her wandering on a forest trail late Friday. She was in a 'fragile' state but had no serious injuries and was flown to a hospital in Perth for treatment, Glynn told reporters. 'You know, she's obviously coped in some amazing conditions,' he said. 'There's a very hostile environment out there, both from flora and fauna. It's a really, really challenging environment to cope in.' The reserve where Wilga was lost covers more than 300,000 hectares (740,000 acres), according to AP.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
German backpacker lost in outback 'beyond grateful' to be found
A backpacker who survived nearly two weeks lost in Western Australia's outback has said she is "simply beyond grateful to have survived". Caroline Wilga, a 26-year-old German national, was rescued on Friday after spending 11 freezing nights alone and lost in the bushland. She survived by drinking from puddles and sheltering in a cave, police said. In her first public statement since being rescued, Ms Wilga said she had hit her head after losing control of her van, causing her to exit the vehicle in a state of confusion. She was spotted by a driver and airlifted to a hospital in Perth, where she is recovering. Ms Wilga thanked the medical staff, German consulate and all the people who had helped search for her, in a statement to Western Australia Police posted on Instagram. "I want to express a huge thank you from the bottom of my heart – a thank you that truly comes from the depth of my soul," she said. "Some people might wonder why I even left my car, even though I had water, food, and clothing there," Ms Wilga added. She said she "lost control of the car and rolled down a slope", hitting her head "significantly" in the subsequent crash. "As a result of the accident, I left my car in a state of confusion and got lost," she added. "Previously, I didn't know where my place was in a culture on the other side of the world to my own, but now, I feel a part of it. 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." She was found walking barefoot by motorist Tania Henley - whom Ms Wilga described as her "saviour and angel" - more than 30km away from where she had abandoned her van, on a scarcely used track north of Beacon. Ms Henley told Australia's public broadcaster ABC that she saw Ms Wilga waving by the side of the road, and she appeared to be in a "fragile state", suffering from exhaustion, dehydration, insect bites and an injured foot. "Everything in this bush is very prickly. I just can't believe that she survived. She had no shoes on, she'd wrapped her foot up," Ms Henley said. Before her rescue, Ms Wilga was last seen at a general store in the town of Beacon, Western Australia, in her van on 29 June. "I am certain that I survived only thanks to this incredible outpouring of support," 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," she said. The rescue was down to "sheer luck", acting police inspector Jessica Securo said in a news conference. German backpacker found after 11 nights in Australia's outback
