German Backpacker Survives 11 Days in Outback after Van Mishap

Carolina Wilga, 26, faced significant challenges while stranded, including dehydration and injuries, before her miraculous rescue.

A German backpacker is safe after spending 11 harrowing nights lost in the Australian outback. Carolina Wilga, aged 26, was rescued on Friday after enduring a survival ordeal that included drinking from puddles and finding shelter in a cave. According to police reports, Wilga was confused and disoriented after straying 24 kilometers (15 miles) from her van, which had become stuck in remote bushland.

Authorities confirmed she suffered from exhaustion, dehydration, and multiple insect bites, as well as an injury to her foot. Prior to her rescue, she reportedly accepted the grim possibility that she might not be found again. "She spent 11 nights exposed to harsh conditions, surviving on her limited food supplies and rainwater," said the Western Australia police in a statement.

The arduous rescue process was marked by a stroke of luck when local driver Tania Henley noticed Wilga waving for help beside the road. Henley described the backpacker as appearing fragile and barefoot, with her foot wrapped. "The bush is very prickly, and I can't believe she managed to survive out there," Henley recounted.

Prior to her disappearance, Carolina was last seen on June 29 at a general store in Beacon, Australia. Police discovered her abandoned van the following Thursday, situated in densely bushy terrain. Acting Inspector Jessica Securo shared that it looks as though she lost control due to mechanical failure before getting bogged down.

Now recovering in a Perth hospital, Carolina Wilga is reported to have had a restful night and is gradually coming to terms with her experience, as she takes it one day at a time.