German backpacker escapes Australian outback ordeal by 'sheer luck'
German backpacker Carolina Wilga lost hope of rescue after 11 nights in the Australian bush, and only made it out by "sheer luck", police said Saturday.
The 26-year-old walked "confused and disoriented" 24 kilometers away from her van after it got stuck in remote bushland in Western Australia.
As police searched for her by air, the backpacker's ordeal ended Friday when she managed to flag down a woman driving by who took her to police.
She was airlifted to a Perth hospital for treatment.
"She is still in disbelief that she was able to survive. In her mind, she had convinced herself that she was not going to be located," said Jessica Securo, acting inspector for the Western Australia police.
The rescue was down to "sheer luck".
"I actually spoke to Carolina this morning, so she confirmed that she was very confused and disorientated," Securo told a news conference. "She basically looked at the direction of the sun and tried to head west, thinking that that would be her best bet of coming across someone or a road."
Wilga had been last seen on June 29 arriving in the van at a general store in the small agricultural community of Beacon, northeast of Perth.
Police found the van on Thursday, abandoned after getting stuck in dense bushland north of Beacon, with plastic orange traction tracks placed beneath the rear wheels.
"It appears that she has somewhat lost control of the vehicle, and then it's become mechanically unsound, and bogged," Securo said.
She stayed with the van for one day before leaving the vehicle through "panic", hoping to find help.
Wilga was found "exhausted, dehydrated and hungry", suffering from cuts and bruises, but "overwhelmed" to have found someone to help her.
"She had minimal food and minimal water. From speaking to her, she has said she could have planned better."
The terrain "can be quite dangerous", Securo added.
Wilga remained in a Perth hospital and was not expected to be released on Saturday, still needing "emotional support" and treatment for some injuries.
"She's had a good night's sleep. She's had a shower. We've got her some food, which was a massive relief for her. So she's just taking it one day at a time at the moment."
The backpacker is now in "frequent communication" with her family who are relieved and thankful the Western Australian community came together to "throw every resource at locating their daughter", Securo said.
The family had no plans at this stage to travel to Australia.
Police say Wilga had spent two years backpacking around the country, and was working at mine sites in Western Australia while staying mostly at hostels.
"Carolina 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."
© 2025 AFP
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