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Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Backpacker's revelation as she's found barefoot after vanishing in outback
Carolina Wilga, 26, from Germany, survived sub-zero temperatures and mosquitos for almost two weeks in the unforgiving Outback in an astonishing story of bravery and resilience A backpacker who was missing in the Australian Outback for 12 days is "lucky" to be alive after being found by a passing motorist. Carolina Wilga, 26, from Germany was last seen on June 29 at a general store in the remote wheat farming town of Beacon - 200 miles northeast of Perth in Western Australia. Astonishingly, the woman somehow managed to survive almost two weeks alone in the harsh environment. Last Friday, police confirmed that she had been found limping along a road in the Karroun Hill Nature Reserve in a severely dehydrated and fragile state. 'She's been located walking on a bushtrack on the edge of the reserve from which she was missing and she's been recovered by a member of the public – which was fantastic,' said Inspector Martin Glynn of WA Police. Astonishingly, despite being ravaged by mosquitoes and suffering sub-zero temperatures at night, Carolina has not been put off by her ordeal. Instead, the intrepid traveller wants to continue exploring Australia. WA Police Detective Acting Inspector Jessica Securo revealed: 'Carol has told me that she loves Australia. She still has so much travel to do here. She hasn't made it over to the East Coast yet, so that's still on her bucket list. So I think if she has the ability to stay, she definitely will," reports While Inspector Martin Glynn said at the time of her rescue: "She does have some injuries. She's been ravaged by mosquitoes. She's obviously been through an amazing journey, a trauma no doubt will be a testimony to demonstrating her bravery in those circumstances out there.' Tania Henley, who came across an injured Carolina by the roadside, told ABC: 'She [was] very scared, very relieved. She was in a fragile state but she was well, thin, but well. She was probably about 40 kilometres from my homestead She said it was very, very cold, and it was below zero." The "resilient" backpacker was found with no shoes on and with one foot wrapped up. " She's very clever as in to survive that long, I mean, not many people can do that," said Tania. Carolina's bogged-down van, a 1995 Mitsubishi Delica Star Wagon, was 22 miles from any major tracks. The van, which had solar panels and reserves of drinking water, had recovery boards under its rear wheels used to give vehicles that have become stuck some traction. Insp. Glynn said she tried to free the van but eventually had to abandon it. He added: 'She'd used MAXTRAX and pieces of wood to try to free the vehicle from its location but unfortunately was unsuccessful. Quite frankly it's really inhospitable ground to move through easily, and as I said, it has rained recently, there are wet spots and vehicles will get bogged often.' The reserve where Carolina was missing covers more than staggering 300,000 hectares. She had been traveling around Australia for the past two years and working at mine sites in WA. Following her ordeal, Carolina said: "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. The backpacker thanked those involved in her rescue and went on to label Tania as her "angel". "My deepest thanks also go to every single person who simply thought of me — and of course, to my rescuer and angel, Tania!" she said.
ITV News
12-07-2025
- ITV News
Missing backpacker Carolina Wilga, 26, found alive in Australian Outback
A 26-year-old backpacker has been found alive in the Australian Outback, 12 days after she went missing. German tourist Carolina Wilga disappeared on 29 June after being seen in a general store in the wheat farming town of Beacon, Western Australia. A member of the public found Ms Wilga wandering on a forest trail late on Friday, police said. She was in a 'fragile' state but had no serious injuries and was flown to a hospital in Perth for treatment, said Martin Glynn from the Western Australia Police Force. 'I think once we do hear her story, it will be a remarkable story,' Mr Glynn said, adding it was a 'great result' for the backpacker's family and those involved in the search. '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 Ms Wilga was lost covers more than 300,000 hectares (740,000 acres). The crew of a police helicopter spotted her van on Thursday in the Karroun Hill Nature Reserve, 36 kilometers (22 miles) north of Beacon, Mr Glynn said. 'Very difficult country. Huge area. So it's a miracle they've actually spotted the car, to be honest,' Mr Glynn told reporters before she was found. Ground searchers on Friday scoured a heavily wooded radius of 300 meters (1,000 feet) beyond the van. Police assume Ms Wilga's van, a 1995 Mitsubishi Delica Star Wagon, became stuck in mud on the day she left Beacon. The van, which has solar panels and reserves of drinking water, had recovery boards under its rear wheels that are used to give vehicles traction when they are stuck. Police believed Ms Wilga became lost and was not the victim of crime.
New York Post
12-07-2025
- New York Post
German tourist Carolina Wilga found alive 12 days after she was lost in the Australian Outback
German tourist Carolina Wilga was found alive in Australia's remote Outback on Friday, 12 days after she went missing and a day after her abandoned van was discovered, police said. The last known sighting of the 26-year-old backpacker, and the last day family and friends heard from her, was June 29. She was seen in a general store in the wheat farming town of Beacon, 200 miles northeast of the Western Australia state capital Perth. Advertisement 4 Carolina Wilga was found alive 12 days after she vanished. WESTERN AUSTRALIAN POLICE FORCE/AFP via Getty Images Beacon had a population of 123 during the 2021 census. A member of the public found Wilga wandering on a forest trail late Friday, Western Australia Police Force Insp. Martin Glynn said. Advertisement She was in a 'fragile' state but had no serious injuries and was flown to a hospital in Perth for treatment, Glynn told reporters. 'I think once we do hear her story, it will be a remarkable story,' Glynn said, adding it was a 'great result' for the backpacker's family and those involved in the search. '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.' Police assume backpacker became stuck June 29 The reserve where Wilga was lost covers more than 740,000 acres. Advertisement The Thursday-Friday overnight temperature was 36.7°F in the area with no rain. 4 A police helicopter discovered her van on Thursday. AP The crew of a police helicopter spotted her van Thursday in the wilderness in the Karroun Hill Nature Reserve, 22 miles north of Beacon, Glynn said. Advertisement 'Very difficult country. Huge area. So it's a miracle they've actually spotted the car, to be honest,' Glynn told reporters before she was found. Ground searchers on Friday scoured a heavily wooded radius of 1,000 feet beyond the van. 4 A handout photo released by police showed Wilga in the small town of Beacon on the day she went missing. WESTERN AUSTRALIAN POLICE FORCE/AFP via Getty Images 4 Wilga was in a 'fragile' state but had no serious injuries. AP Police assume Wilga's van, a 1995 Mitsubishi Delica Star Wagon, became stuck in mud on the day she left Beacon, Glynn said. The van, which has solar panels and reserves of drinking water, had recovery boards under its rear wheels that are used to give vehicles traction when they are stuck. Police believed Wilga became lost and was not the victim of a crime. Australian serial killer Ivan Milat, who died in prison in 2019, notoriously kidnapped and murdered seven backpackers from 1989 to 1992 including three Germans, two Britons and two Australians.
Courier-Mail
12-07-2025
- Courier-Mail
Locals speak of tough terrain where missing backpacker Carolina Wilga was found
Don't miss out on the headlines from WA News. Followed categories will be added to My News. After 12 days missing in some of Western Australia's most unforgiving bushland, 26-year-old backpacker Carolina Wilga has been found alive in a miracle that has brought relief to the shaken local community. Locals have described the area where Ms Wilga vanished as harsh and unforgiving, with a maze of gravel roads winding through dry, empty bushland. Police located the missing backpacker's Mitsubishi Delica Star Wagon at Karroun Hill on the fringe of Western Australia's wheatbelt on Friday, but there was no sign of Ms Wilga herself. Wheatbelt resident Tilly Elizabeth, who lives on a farm not far from Beacon, said the area around Karroun Hill was 'deserted'. 'There's been a few disappearances in the area,' she said. 'There's a lot of wheat and sheep farming, it's pretty deserted, I can drive along a dirt road and not see anyone. 'There's not many people around even in Beacon or Dalwallinu, we're very spread out. 'Out this way, it's just rocks and barren land.' The Mitsubishi Delica van that was driven by Carolina Wilga was located abandoned in the Karroun Hill area. Picture: WA Police Ms Elizabeth said the nature reserve was known to locals but rarely visited by outsiders. 'Karroun Hill is a lookout, it's not super popular, it's not really on the way to anything' she said. 'I go exploring through there all the time, but I get nervous if I'm in an area I don't know.' She said while the lookout attracts the occasional visitor, it is easy to become disoriented, even for those who know the region well. 'The locals know the tracks really well, but it's so easy to get lost or stuck out here, it's all unsealed roads, 'Take a few turns on a gravel road and you can't find your way back. I get nervous if I'm not sure if there's an end or if it will connect up to bitumen, Ms Elizabeth said rain can quickly change the landscape and plunging night-time temperatures make survival even harder. 'Rain can cover up your tracks, and at the moment it's freezing, just a couple of degrees at night,' she said. 'People can underestimate WA.' Ms Wilga was last seen in Beacon after travelling through regional Western Australia. Picture: WA Police. Police said the weather had made search efforts difficult, but noted it would have been 'a thousand time worse' for Ms Wilga. 'As you can imagine from the trauma she's suffered for the last few days, she's been through a great deal,' Inspector Martin Glynn said. 'It's a really, really challenging environment to cope in and the weather conditions have been really adverse with temperatures getting down to 0 degrees at night, there's been rain. 'It must have been a thousand times worse for her in her condition. Ms Elizabeth said the discovery of Carolina Wilga has brought immense relief to the remote wheatbelt community. 'The community is ecstatic, we've all cracked a beer for her,' she said. 'No one wants to be known as the place people go missing, we were fearing the worst. 'It's tough country, she must be a tough girl.' Originally published as 'You can get lost so easily': Locals reveal harsh conditions where backpacker vanished
Perth Now
11-07-2025
- Perth Now
Inside country where backpacker defied odds
After 12 days missing in some of Western Australia's most unforgiving bushland, 26-year-old backpacker Carolina Wilga has been found alive in a miracle that has brought relief to the shaken local community. Locals have described the area where Ms Wilga vanished as harsh and unforgiving, with a maze of gravel roads winding through dry, empty bushland. Police located the missing backpacker's Mitsubishi Delica Star Wagon at Karroun Hill on the fringe of Western Australia's wheatbelt on Friday, but there was no sign of Ms Wilga herself. Wheatbelt resident Tilly Elizabeth, who lives on a farm not far from Beacon, said the area around Karroun Hill was 'deserted'. 'There's been a few disappearances in the area,' she said. 'There's a lot of wheat and sheep farming, it's pretty deserted, I can drive along a dirt road and not see anyone. 'There's not many people around even in Beacon or Dalwallinu, we're very spread out. 'Out this way, it's just rocks and barren land.' The Mitsubishi Delica van that was driven by Carolina Wilga was located abandoned in the Karroun Hill area. WA Police Credit: Supplied Ms Elizabeth said the nature reserve was known to locals but rarely visited by outsiders. 'Karroun Hill is a lookout, it's not super popular, it's not really on the way to anything' she said. 'I go exploring through there all the time, but I get nervous if I'm in an area I don't know.' She said while the lookout attracts the occasional visitor, it is easy to become disoriented, even for those who know the region well. 'The locals know the tracks really well, but it's so easy to get lost or stuck out here, it's all unsealed roads, 'Take a few turns on a gravel road and you can't find your way back. I get nervous if I'm not sure if there's an end or if it will connect up to bitumen, Ms Elizabeth said rain can quickly change the landscape and plunging night-time temperatures make survival even harder. 'Rain can cover up your tracks, and at the moment it's freezing, just a couple of degrees at night,' she said. 'People can underestimate WA.' Ms Wilga was last seen in Beacon after travelling through regional Western Australia. WA Police. Credit: Supplied Police said the weather had made search efforts difficult, but noted it would have been 'a thousand time worse' for Ms Wilga. 'As you can imagine from the trauma she's suffered for the last few days, she's been through a great deal,' Inspector Martin Glynn said. 'It's a really, really challenging environment to cope in and the weather conditions have been really adverse with temperatures getting down to 0 degrees at night, there's been rain. 'It must have been a thousand times worse for her in her condition. Ms Elizabeth said the discovery of Carolina Wilga has brought immense relief to the remote wheatbelt community. 'The community is ecstatic, we've all cracked a beer for her,' she said. 'No one wants to be known as the place people go missing, we were fearing the worst. 'It's tough country, she must be a tough girl.'
