Latest news with #Tania
SBS Australia
5 days ago
- SBS Australia
Remarkable survival story prompts reminders on travel safely in Australia's outback
"She spent one day with the car after it became bogged? and then she moved on from there, so she was essentially out in the wilderness for eleven nights which is significant and just brings us back to how lucky she was that she was located safely and well and how thankful we are that we managed to find her. She basically looked at the direction of the sun and tried to head west, thinking that would be her best bet to come across someone or a road." That's Western Australia's Acting Detective Inspector Jessica Securo at a press conference over the weekend. She detailed just how a 26-year-old German backpacker survived the brutal 12-day ordeal alone in the outback. Carolina Wilga has been discharged from a Perth hospital after surviving nearly two weeks lost in remote Western Australia. She was treated for dehydration and minor injuries - she is safe, walking, and has reunited with loved ones. Detective Inspector Securo says family members in Germany were overwhelmed. "They were in disbelief that a community can come together and just throw every resource at locating their daughter." From the hospital, Ms Wilga revealed why she abandoned her vehicle: she hit her head after losing control of her van, and strayed from the bogged car in a state of confusion. In a police statement, Ms Wilga also thanked the motorist who found her last Friday, as well as police, searchers and medical staff. Tania was the woman who found her. She told ABC News of the moment she saw Ms Wilga. "I knew it was her straight away. I was coming back from Beacon because I'd been down to pick up my trailer and yeah she was on the side of the road, waving her hand." Ms Wilga left her hometown of Castrop-Rauxel in Germany with big dreams, to see every corner of this vast country. She'd walked for 11 days - sleeping in a cave, surviving by drinking from rainwater and puddles on the ground. Caro Ryan is the Bush Search and Rescue Deputy Unit Commander at SES New South Wales. She recommends the TREK method for adventure seekers looking to travel in Australia. "Trek acronym, TREK, and it stands for T, which is take everything you need. So that's going to be your food and your water. Take a little bit extra, you don't know if you're going to get delayed. Take a first aid kit, take some warm layers of clothes, take a map and a compass or a good way of navigating - you might have a digital app, something like that. Make sure you've definitely then got your battery pack, a power bank for your phone to keep that phone working." She says a paper map is helpful, and there are good packing lists available online. "Then the R is for register your intention, which is really just a fancy way of saying tell somebody where you're going. It's really important. So not only tell someone where you're going, but get specific. Tell them what track you're going to do in what area, where you're going to leave your car, how long you're going to be, and let them know when you're back as well." Ms Ryan says having a personal locator beacon can be a lifesaver. "Then E stands for emergency communications. So you think about these wild places we have all across Australia so many times we don't have mobile phone coverage, and having a way of communicating if something goes wrong or even just to let someone know you're running late is essential. So having a PLB, that's a personal locator beacon, it's a small device, fits in the palm of your hand. You can either buy them or rent them and they're absolute lifesavers." And lastly, familiarise yourself with the intended journey. "Finally we've got K, which is know your route and stick to it. So that's really about planning the trip that's right for you, for your experience, for the skills that you might have for your level of fitness and making sure you've got good information about that track that you're going to be doing as well. There's a great system in Australia, we've got the Australian walking track grading system, and our tracks all across Australia are graded from one to five, whereas five is really hard." Sergeant Jim Armstrong is from the WA Police Emergency Operations Unit. He says research and preparation is key - from informing someone that you're going to choosing the right type of clothing and equipment. "One thing that we recommend is offline mapping. So with most phones that have Google, there'll be a mapping feature and in the settings there, there's a thing called offline mapping and what you can do is actually select an area that you're intending to go to and you won't need to have phone coverage for your mapping to still function." And Sergeant Armstrong says people often try to do things they're not equipped to do. "We often see people attempting to do some serious four-wheel drive off-road adventures in their commuter vehicles, which are just totally unsuitable for the conditions. So it's important that your vehicle is suitable and it's also mechanically sound and checked out before you leave. Now with regard to your advanced planning for your trip, have a look at the resources you have and also have a self-rescue plan if something were to go wrong and an idea of what you intend to do." It's always recommended to stay with the vehicle but if that isn't possible, he says, leave a clear trail. "If you reach a point at a track like a fork or you have to make a decision to go left or right, leave a pile of rocks on the track with an arrow with some sticks, just pointing in the direction you've gone. It just makes things a lot easier when we're out searching if we come across something like that, we know which way to keep searching. When you are camped up for the night, consider a small fire. Obviously we don't want fires to get out of control, but a small fire with the smoke and the heat can be easily spotted by a plane or a helicopter." Sergeant Armstrong says any reflective device like a mirror can attract attention to your location. Despite everything she's been through, WA Police say Ms Wilga still loves Australia and has plans to see the rest of the country, including travelling across to the east coast.
Economist
6 days ago
- Politics
- Economist
Mexico's handouts do a bit for the poor and lots for Morena
Tania earns a decent wage working as a doctor's assistant in central Mexico City. But to make ends meet the 47-year-old relies on government handouts. She is paid for keeping her 14-year-old daughter, Regina, enrolled in school. Her 67-year-old mother, Teresa, gets a non-contributory pension. Tens of millions of Mexicans get these transfers. They are the mechanism favoured by Morena, Mexico's populist ruling party, for curbing the country's poverty and inequality, the subject of our ongoing series. And they have helped the party accrue extraordinary political power over the past seven years.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
'I was left relying on food banks' says mum after DWP clawed back overpayments
A charity has called on the Department for Work and Pensions to show more compassion and understanding when dealing with people who've had overpayments - often through no fault of their own A mum-of-three has revealed how she was left reeling after being hit with a demand for £15,000 in benefits overpayments out of the blue. Tania, 55, from Yorkshire, says she had to use food banks after the Department for Work and Pension suddenly began docking £80 a month from what she got - with little explanation. That was 10 years ago and she says DWP has still not told her much she is left owing. Tania, who asked us not to use her surname, was thrown into panic after receiving a letter telling her she had received too much in working tax credits. She believes it may relate to a mix-up about the amount of time her partner at the time was living with her. Rather than discuss how much she could afford, she says the money was suddenly deducted from her benefits. "They just took what they wanted. I think it is disgraceful. 'I was surviving month to month. I was relying on food banks and family and friends. It was an horrendous time. Losing £80 a month was a huge amount of money for me. I was fearing homelessness, it was that bad.' Tania, who has bipolar, says was put off calling up to discuss the problem because of previous dealings. "I thought 'I can't face speaking to anyone there'. They would say 'this is just what it is'. I have always found them so aloof, they are so intimidating.' She has since been moved onto Universal Credit, with the amount deducted coming down to £50 a month. Despite it being 10 years Tania claims she is still unaware of how much she supposedly still owes. She says it contrasts starkly with her energy and water suppliers, both of whom she was in debt to, but which have been willing to negotiate a repayment plan. Tania's experience is echoed by a new report which says the government is more aggressive than banks and other firms when recovering debts. A charity founded by consumer champion Martin Lewis says the government uses a 'harsh' approach when clawing back benefits it claims people owe. What it calls 'sudden and severe' debt collection practices are causing 'serious needless financial hardship and distress for people in vulnerable circumstances', says the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute. Its research found 1.1 million people across the UK owe the Department for Work and Pensions money that has been overpaid. It is most likely to involve Universal Credit and can have happen either due to DWP making a mistake or changes in a person's circumstances. According the charity, the DWP can directly deduct 15% of people's monthly Universal Credit payment if you have been overpaid benefits. In many cases this happens within a month of the DWP spotting the overpayment, it said. The sudden hit to people's income can have a big impact on their ability to make ends meet. And unlike banks or other companies owed money, the government is not required to proactively check when people can afford to repay. It comes as HMRC and the DWP could get more debt collection powers via the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill currently going through Parliament. The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute says what is happens is similar to that of the Carer's Allowance controversy. In that case, some carers were forced to pay back thousands of pounds after being overpaid for years, despite the government having an internal system that flags potential cases as they arise. Helen Undy, chief executive of the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, said: 'When people are paid more in Universal Credit than they are entitled to, it's often through no fault of their own, and sometimes the first they know of it is when the government takes sudden and brutal steps to claw those payments back. Many people we work with are already running out of money for food before the end of the month, suddenly taking £60 from what they have left plunges them into further financial hardship and needless distress. The government has pledged to overhaul how it reclaims Carer's Allowance, now it needs to do the same for how it collects Universal Credit overpayments. 'Above all, that means proactively giving people a real chance to negotiate a payment plan that they can actually afford, instead of just taking money out of people's income with barely any warning. 'We'd also like to see better standards applied across all government debt collection. It cannot be right that the state is lagging far behind the standards that consumer creditors have to meet in treating people fairly and with respect if they fall behind on payments.' A DWP spokesperson said: 'While we would urge people to report a change in circumstances to avoid falling into debt, we understand debts do occur and will always support those struggling with repayments to agree affordable plans. We have introduced a new Fair Repayment Rate, which caps debt repayments made in Universal Credit at 15%, allowing 1.2 million households to keep more of their Universal Credit. Our new Fraud Bill will help us to identify overpayments at the earliest stage so we can help prevent people falling into debt, and to do so in a way that is fair and proportionate.'
The Guardian
14-07-2025
- The Guardian
German backpacker who went missing in WA outback says she got lost after hitting head in car crash
Carolina Wilga hit her head in a car crash and left her vehicle in a 'state of confusion' before going missing in the Western Australian outback for 11 nights, the German backpacker has revealed. In the 26-year-old's first statement since flagging down a local woman, Tania, in a passing car on Friday afternoon, Wilga explained the series of events that led to her disappearance. 'Some people might wonder why I even left my car, even though I had water, food, and clothing there,' she said in a statement on Monday afternoon. '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.' A desperate search for Wilga began after her family and friends raised the alarm when they hadn't heard from her since 29 June. She was last seen visiting a shop in Beacon, a small town about 300km north-east of Perth in WA. WA police sent significant land and air resources to the region, combing over the remote wheatbelt area with the assistance of volunteers. On Thursday, Wilga's Mitsubishi van was found bogged and abandoned in Karroun Hill, about 150km from Beacon. The following day, she was found about 24km from her car, 'ravaged' by mosquitoes, dehydrated, exhausted and starving. WA police Acting Det Insp Jessica Securo said after her discovery that Wilga had 'somewhat lost control of the vehicle', which had then become 'mechanically unsound and bogged'. She told media over the weekend that they had never given up on a positive result. 'It's sheer luck,' she said. 'The area out there is mixed terrain. It can be quite dangerous if you don't know what you're doing or where you're going, and it's very easy to get lost.' Wilga had stayed with the car for just a day before panicking and striking out to find help, Securo said, and had used the sun's position to head west. She had minimal food and water with her, and drank water from rain and puddles to survive. At one point, she sought shelter in a cave. In her statement on Monday, Wilga expressed 'a huge thank you from the bottom of my heart' to supporters during her search. 'Previously, I didn't know where my place was in a culture on the other side of the world to my own, but now, I feel a part of it,' she said. 'Western Australia has taught me what it really means to be part of a true community. Here, humanity, solidarity, and care for one another are what truly matter – and in the end, that's what counts most.' Wilga said she was 'certain' that she only survived thanks to the outpouring of support, giving particular mention to police, the German consulate and medical staff. '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. 'My deepest thanks also go to every single person who simply thought of me – and of course, to my rescuer and angel, Tania. 'I am simply beyond grateful to have survived. Thank you Australia – you are amazing.'
Scottish Sun
13-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Farmer who found lost German backpacker in Outback reveals moment she found the tourist who ‘slept in a cave to survive'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE hero farmer who found a missing backpacker in the Australian Outback has revealed the first words she said to the lost woman. Tania French discovered a dishevelled Carolina Wilga, 26, on the side of a remote stretch of road 12 days after the German first vanished. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 German backpacker Carolina Wilga vanished for 12 days in the Australian Outback before she was found by a farmer Credit: Facebook 9 Tania French discovered a dishevelled Carolina on the side of a remote stretch of road Credit: 7News 9 Carolina was seen being airlifted to hospital on Friday after being found Credit: 7NEWS 9 Tania recalled the first interaction the pair shared after she noticed the woman waving her hands in the air as she stumbled across the road. After pulling over, Tania comforted Carolina and gave her a big hug and told the woman about the desperate search efforts over her. Tania told 7News: "I stopped. I went out and gave her a hug, I said, 'look, everyone has been looking for you.' "She couldn't believe it. She didn't realise how long [she had been missing]." Carolina then called the farmer from Wheatbelt, Western Australia, her "guardian angel". Tania was picking up a truck from Beacon on Friday - about 186 miles northeast of Perth - when she first spotted Carolina. The road she was travelling down is a rarely used route for locals and tourists with Tania saying her seeing the German was "meant to be". "The chance of me going down that road and meeting up with her was incredible," the farmer said. "It was meant to be, because no one goes up and down that road." She added the backpacker looked noticeably thin but appeared in good health despite not being seen or heard from since June 29. Missing backpacker found ALIVE after nearly two weeks wandering Oz bushland Police believed Carolina had become disoriented and walked into bushland after her van broke down in the Karroun Hill area in Western Australia's outback. The region is said to be an unforgiving expanse, described by authorities as remote, rocky and inhospitable. After spending a night trying to repair the vehicle, Carolina decided to go off and find help on her own. With minimal food and water, the German backpacker followed the sun's position to head west. The temperature in the area had dropped down to zero degrees at night and there was heavy rain. At one point, she even reportedly sought refuge inside a cave and drank water from puddles to survive. A Facebook page titled 'Help Find Carolina was launched to assist the search as WA Police issued an urgent nationwide appeal for information. Cops managed to track her last known texts which were sent to a friend in the early hours of June 29. 9 Carolina was in a van travelling through the Outback when she broke down and tried to walk to safety Credit: AFP 9 She was spotted wearing a long beige jumper and light blue jeans before she went missing Credit: Western Australia Police Force 9 Carolina had been backpacking across Australia for two years Credit: AFP At 7am, Carolina reportedly said she wouldn't be able to drop off a book and a jerry can to her pal because she had 'some stuff she needed to handle'. She was then spotted in the van at a local store in the tiny town of Beacon on June 29 at around 12.10pm. She went missing the following day. The van — equipped with solar panels and water — was later found on Thursday, but there was no sign of the missing woman. Tania would be the first person to see Carolina after the ordeal as she informed police of her incredible discovery. WA police's Martin Glynn told reporters on Friday that Carolina is now in good health and recovering. He said: 'As you can imagine, from the trauma she suffered for the last few days, she's been obviously through a great deal. 'She does have some injuries. She's been ravaged by mosquitoes." Carolina had been backpacking across Australia for two years and recently worked at mine sites in regional WA. 9 The Mitsubishi Delica van was found abandoned on Thursday Credit: Western Australia Police Force
