Backpacker reveals shocking detail about traumatic ordeal
The 26-year-old returned to social media on Monday night, posting a picture from her hospital bed.
In the photo, Ms Wilga can be seen smiling and surrounded by food that was gifted to her by the German Consulate.
'When you need to gain 12 kilograms back,' the photo caption said.
Ms Wilga was miraculously found alive on Friday after 12 days missing in remote Wheatbelt bush. Carolina Wilga all smiles as she recovers in hospital. Credit: Instagram
Breaking her silence about the traumatic ordeal on Monday, Ms Wilga revealed she became lost after losing control of her van, hitting her head and wandering off from her bogged vehicle in a state of confusion.
'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.'
She survived by drinking rainwater from puddles and sleeping in a cave before farmer Tania French came to her rescue.
Ms French happened to be driving by on Mouroubra Road in Bimbijy, about 24km north west from where the bogged van was found, when a dishevelled Ms Wilga flagged her down.
Ravaged by mosquitoes, dehydrated and hungry with cuts and bruises, she was taken under the arm of police before being flown to Perth for medical treatment.
It is expected Ms Wilga will remain at Fiona Stanley Hospital for a few more nights as her condition continues to improve.
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The Advertiser
10 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
14 hours ago
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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.
Perth Now
14 hours ago
- Perth Now
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.
