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Time of India
12-07-2025
- Time of India
German backpacker found after 12 days; what makes Western Australia so easy to get lost in?
The story of 26-year-old missing German backpacker Carolina Wilga has gripped Australia and beyond. Missing for nearly two weeks in one of the country's harshest terrains, Wilga was found alive, weak, dehydrated, and injured, but safe. Her survival against the odds has raised questions about what exactly happened, how she endured the ordeal, and why the Western Australian outback, sometimes referred to as Australia's "wild west" kept her hidden for so long. Before almost giving a plot to make a movie, Ms Wilga made the unlikely decision to take the van she recently purchased and plunge even further into the depths of the great beyond, later finding herself in a miserable condition in a sparse and environmentally hostile nature reserve. Nobody knew what she was doing out there, where she was trying to go, and why. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo What happened to Carolina Wilga? Carolina Wilga was last seen on June 29, 2025, at a general store in the small Wheatbelt town of Beacon, about 330km northeast of Perth. She had been travelling solo in a black and silver Mitsubishi Delica van, reportedly on a journey through remote parts of Western Australia , with possible plans to head east. Live Events The alarm was raised when friends and family stopped hearing from her. A major search was launched. On July 11, after 12 days since she was last seen, Wilga was found limping along a bush track in Karroun Hill Nature Reserve , more than 300 km from Perth. Her ordeal began when her van became bogged down in dense bushland around 35km off the nearest track. After failing to free the vehicle using recovery gear like MAXTRAX and wood planks, she decided to abandon it and seek help on foot. Police say Wilga was eventually found by a member of the public, 20km from the nearest walkable trail. She was severely dehydrated, covered in mosquito bites, and suffering from minor injuries, with only one shoe on her foot. Why was she missing for so long? The answer lies in the Wheatbelt region's vast, rugged, and unforgiving nature, where Karroun Hill is located. A patchwork of dry shrubland, rocky outcrops, and gravel roads, the area is lightly populated and poorly marked, ideal for becoming disoriented, especially for those unfamiliar with the terrain. WA Police revealed that recent rain had erased signs of which direction she may have walked. Search teams focused initially around her vehicle, which is normally the best chance of locating a missing person in such terrain. Unfortunately, Wilga had already left it behind. 'The terrain is really inhospitable,' said Inspector Martin Glynn. 'There are places where vehicles get bogged easily. Even locals say you can take a few wrong turns and completely lose your bearings.' What makes Australia's 'wild west' so dangerous? The term 'Wild West' may sound romantic, but in outback Western Australia, it can be a life-or-death reality. Karroun Hill lies on the edge of arable Wheatbelt land, giving way to remote bushland where survival depends on self-sufficiency and navigation skills. Even residents of the area acknowledge the danger. 'It's so easy to get lost or stuck out here,' said local farmer Tilly Elizabeth. 'Rain covers your tracks, and at night it's just a few degrees. People disappear here more often than you'd think.' Temperatures in the area drop to near-freezing at night, while the days can be dry and disorienting under the sun. Add to that the lack of mobile coverage, sparse human presence, and limited water sources, and it becomes clear why the region held Wilga for nearly two weeks. What's her condition now? After being rescued, Wilga was taken to the small town of Beacon and then flown to Perth for medical care. Police said she was "ravaged by mosquitoes" and "very distressed" when found, but conscious and responsive. She is now recovering and has been reunited with authorities and healthcare professionals. Her family in Germany has been notified, and police say she is in a "fragile" state but expected to recover physically. Lessons from the ordeal Authorities have put down a key takeaway: if you are stranded in the outback, stay with your vehicle. It's easier to spot from the air or by search teams than a person walking through bushland. Police and locals alike praised Wilga's resilience. 'She obviously coped in some amazing conditions,' said Inspector Glynn. 'There's a very hostile environment out there, from flora to fauna.'
9 News
11-07-2025
- 9 News
Missing backpacker Carolina Wilga found alive in remote WA outback
By Eleanor Wilson - 24 minutes ago Missing German backpacker Carolina Wilga has been found alive in the remote Western Australian outback. 9News understands Wilga was picked up by a member of the public near Beacon, more than 300 kilometres north-east of Perth in the Wheatbelt region. The 26-year-old had been missing since June 29 . READ MORE: Hunt for rider after nine-year-old girl run over by dirt bike in Rosemeadow Police released images of Carolina Wilga's bogged van in the hours before the backpacker was found. (WA Police) The aerial shots show just how remote the area is where Wilga's van was abandoned. (WA Police) Police released new footage today of Wilga's bogged van, showing just how stuck it was when the backpacker abandoned it. Inspector Martin Glynn said police believed Wilga made "extensive efforts" to free her vehicle from remote terrain after it became bogged. "She'd used MAXTRAX and pieces of wood to try to free the vehicle from its location but unfortunately was unsuccessful," he said. "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." Trackers deployed to Beacon had struggled to find any evidence of the 26-year-old leaving her vehicle, Glynn had said. Carolina Wilga stopped at a petrol station in Toodyay about 4.30pm the day before she was last seen. (WA Police) Inspector Martin Glynn said police believe Wilga made "extensive efforts" to free her vehicle from remote terrain after it became bogged. (Nine) "The area has been subject to some rain and it's very firm ground so unfortunately we haven't been able to identify a direction of travel," he said. Police today conducted a 300-metre search around the vehicle for any sign of the missing backpacker. More to come. DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP : Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play . Western Australia Australia National WA Police Missing Persons
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
2025 Rivian R1T, R1S California Dune Editions Look Fit for the Desert
Rivian has launched its first special-edition models, the and California Dune Edition. Their exteriors wear a tan paint job, with the option to match the same hue on the 20-inch wheels that come as part of the standard All-Terrain package. The cabin features a two-tone look, with a Black Mountain upper section and a Sandstone lower section. The Rivian R1T truck and R1S SUV received comprehensive updates for the 2025 model year, bringing tweaked exterior styling, a lithium-iron-phosphate chemistry in the standard battery, and a new drive unit in the Tri-Motor and Quad-Motor powertrains. Now, Rivian is enhancing the R1 duo even further with the California Dune Edition, a special version of the R1T and R1S that gets a desert-inspired paint job and standard off-road gear. This marks the first time Rivian has launched a limited-edition variant of its R1 line of vehicles. The special-edition model is differentiated from standard Rivians by an all-new paint color called, unsurprisingly, California Dune. The color was inspired by Southern California's beautiful dunes. The vehicles also wear an exterior Darkout package to accentuate the contrast between the badging and the tan paint job. Inside, each California Dune Edition sports a hue called Sandstone on the lower section of the cabin with a Black Mountain upper half. The interior also features flooring material that's supposed to be easy to clean, with Sandstone floor mats to match the seats, center console, and door panels. The California Dune Edition is based around the R1 models' Tri-Motor setup, which packs three electric motors spitting out a whopping 850 horsepower and 1103 pound-feet of torque. This allows the electric SUV and electric truck to rip from zero to 60 mph in a claimed 2.9 seconds. The Tri-Motor powertrain also features a Soft Sand drive mode, which ties in nicely with the California Dune theme. The special Rivians also come fitted with the All-Terrain package as standard. Normally a $3700 add-on, the package adds 20-inch wheels, a spare tire, and a reinforced underbody shield. The wheels are offered here with two finishes, either a darkened look or a California Dune paint that matches the rest of the body. The inclusion of the All-Terrain package does knock the Tri-Motor powertrain's EPA-rated range from 371 miles to 329 miles. The California Dune models also feature a couple of unique accessories. There are black MAXTRAX traction boards that live atop the roof rack, which also get a darkened appearance. On the R1T pickup truck, there is also a standard powered tonneau cover, which got a revised design for 2025. Rivian didn't say how many examples of the California Dune models will be built, but it did describe the model as limited editions. The special Rivians are available to order now, with the R1T California Dune Edition starting at $99,900 and the R1S California Dune Edition starting at $105,900. You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
