2 days ago
How the relieved friends of rescued backpacker Carolina Wilga plan to celebrate her miraculous return
The relieved friends of rescued German backpacker Carolina Wilga plan to hear her miraculous story of survival in the 'hostile' Australian outback over a pub feed.
The 26-year-old was found alive and well on Friday afternoon, 12 days after she vanished in Western Australia 's Wheatbelt region.
She had last been seen on CCTV on June 29 inside a general store in Beacon, a small town about 300km northeast of Perth.
At 1.10pm on Thursday, WA Police discovered Ms Wilga's Mitsubishi Delica van abandoned in the Karroun Hill area, about 100km north of where she was last seen.
One day later, a member of the public found her limping along a bush track near where her van was found the day before and raised the alarm.
Ms Wilga, who suffered minor injuries and was 'ravaged by mosquitoes', was filmed approaching a plane that airlifted her to Royal Perth Hospital. She appeared to be walking with a limp and was only wearing one shoe.
Five of Ms Wilga's friends were waiting for her outside the hospital just before 7pm on Friday. They told reporters they planned to take her out for a pub feed.
'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.
Friend Jules Briand said he was keen to hear Ms Wilga's incredible story of survival.
'I can't wait to hug her and tell her that she got us worried ... and have good food and drink with her,' he said.
WA Police Inspector Martin Glynn told reporters it was sure to be a 'remarkable' story.
'As you can imagine from the trauma she's suffered for the last few days, she's been obviously through a great deal,' Insp Glynn said.
'She's obviously in quite a fragile condition at the moment.
'She's coped in some amazing conditions. (It's a) very hostile environment out there.'
Timeline of backpacker's disappearance
June 28
Ms Wilga's friend saw her leave the Sundance Backpackers hostel in Fremantle on June 28.
Her friend Denise Kullick told German media Ms Wilga had planned to travel with a friend to a seaside location to become a yoga teacher - but ended up setting off alone.
Another friend, in Australia, was also in contact with Ms Wilga twice on the same day, the first was a text message at 7am.
In the message, Ms Wilga explained she would not be able to drop off a book and a jerry can as she had 'some stuff she needed to handle'.
CCTV footage captured Ms Wilga driving into a petrol station at 4.28pm on Stirling Terrace in Toodyay - about 90km northeast of Perth.
Ms Wilga parked, exited her van and filled it with petrol before heading inside the service station to pay.
At 4.38pm, the friend received a voice message from Ms Wilga in which she was heard saying: 'I just couldn't wait anymore. Ugh. I felt tired'.
Shortly after, at 4.41pm, Ms Wilga left the petrol station.
Police believed Ms Wilga departed Toodyay and embarked on the 230km journey northeast, stopping at Dowerin, on the way to Beacon.
June 29 - Ms Wilga is last seen
Ms Wilga was last seen on CCTV footage taken from a general store in Beacon, about 300km northeast of Perth in the Wheatbelt region, at 12.10pm on June 29.
She was spotted wearing ripped blue baggy jeans, a cream long-sleeve jumper and a similar coloured scarf.
The young backpacker was captured peering into the store and walking around the property.
About five minutes later, she got back into her van and left. Police believed she travelled to Wialki, a further 25km east of Beacon.
June 30 to July 9 - Ms Wilga makes no contact
From June 30, friends and family were not able to contact Ms Wilga, nor were there any sightings of the young traveller.
Police issued a missing person alert on July 7, with details of her disappearance and an appeal for information or sightings of Ms Wilga.
On July 9, Western Australia Police Commissioner Col Blanch told media police were 'very concerned' for Ms Wilga's welfare.
Detectives from the homicide squad were also called in to help find the missing backpacker.
Commissioner Blanch added her disappearance was not being treated as a murder 'at this point'.
'They are investigating, not that it's a homicide at this point, but we want our very best capabilities to investigate something that is very concerning to us,' Commissioner Blanch said.
It was believed her phone had been switched off, police said.
The police air wing also joined the 'very large search and rescue' operation, with officers scouring the immense Wheatbelt region for clues to her whereabouts.
July 10 - Ms Wilga's van is found
Police located Ms Wilga's black and silver 1995 Mitsubishi Delica van in Karroun Hill at 1.10pm on Thursday.
The van was found abandoned, more than 50km north of Wialki, with police believing the vehicle had suffered mechanical issues.
Police said she may have wandered into the outback after her van broke down in Karroun Hill and ruled out foul play.
She was found on Friday afternoon by a member of the public walking along a bush track. Ms Wilga was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital.
In footage of her boarding the plane she appeared to walk with a limp.
