Latest news with #Wilga
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Perth Now
Backpacker's update after ‘miracle' rescue
German backpacker Carolina Wilga - whose disappearance sparked an enormous search-and-rescue operation in Western Australia - has returned home after her outback ordeal. The 26-year-old survived 12 days lost and alone in remote bushland before being rescued on July 11. She spent the next several days recovering in a Perth hospital, revealing she had lost 12kg during the ordeal. Following her release from hospital, Ms Wilga has now returned to Germany, with local publication BILD reporting: 'Carolina is home again!' She reportedly touched down in Dusseldorf early Sunday afternoon and was taken by ambulance to hospital, where she was met by a nurse and a team of bodyguards. Ms Wilga took to social media to bid a fond farewell to WA before her departure. 'Reunion with the ocean and a great goodbye to Perth with a loooots of hugs,' she wrote in the now-deleted social media post. 'Love you all.' She shared several pictures of herself with friends, her time in hospital, and the front page of a newspaper after her rescue. Ms Wilga last posted on social media on Thursday last week, sharing a picture from her hospital bed surrounded by pastries, chips and other treats. 'When you need to gain the 12 kilograms back,' she captioned the post. Caroline Wilga who spent nearly two weeks missing in Western Australia's Wheatbelt region. WA Police Credit: Supplied Before her disappearance Ms Wilga was last seen on June 29 in the regional WA town of Beacon. Her car was found stuck in soft sand, but authorities could not find any sign of the backpacker herself. A massive search effort went into finding Ms Wilga until local Tania Henley found her walking along the road on July 11. Ms Henley described the rescue as a 'miracle'. Ms Wilga's car was found in dense bushland. WA Police Credit: Supplied In a statement after her rescue, the backpacker explained she had got lost after losing control of her car and getting a knock to her head that left her confused. 'First and foremost, I want to express a huge thank you from the bottom of my heart – a thank you that truly comes from the depth of my soul! For all the incredible supports during the search for me,' Ms Wilga said in her statement. Ms Wilga's car at a petrol station. WA Police Credit: Supplied The last picture of Ms Wilga before her dissapearance. WA Police Credit: Supplied She said that the ordeal had made her feel deeply connected to the community that rescued her, despite it being so far from home. '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. I am deeply impressed by the courage, helpfulness, and warmth that has been shown to me here. '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. 'I am certain that I survived only thanks to this 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.'
7NEWS
3 days ago
- 7NEWS
Backpacker Carolina Wilga rescued from Australian Outback in WA returns to Germany after 12-day survival ordeal
Backpacker Carolina Wilga, who was lost in the Australian outback for 12 days, has returned home to Germany. The 26-year-old student from Castrop-Rauxel, North Rhine-Westphalia, landed in Düsseldorf on Saturday at 1.31 pm after the more than 20-hour flight from Perth via Dubai, according to German newspaper BILD. She flew business class on an Emirates A380, escorted throughout the long-haul flight by medics as a precaution following her dramatic survival ordeal in the WA outback. Wilga was immediately transferred from the airport in a civilian ambulance to the Evangelical Hospital in Castrop-Rauxel as a precaution, local newspapers reported. Her familiar orange trekking backpack, which she had carried with her when she travelled around Australia, was seen being brought in. Vanished without a trace Wilga made international headlines after surviving 12 days lost and alone in WA 's Wheatbelt when her car became bogged in harsh bushland. On June 29, she was last seen at a small supermarket in regional Western Australia. Her damaged van was discovered abandoned in thick bush on July 10 near the Karroun Hill Nature Reserve. Despite having supplies in the vehicle — food, water, and clothes — Carolina was nowhere to be found. A massive search was launched across remote bushland. People in Germany and Australia followed the case, with concerns growing as days stretched into weeks. Twelve days in the wilderness Wilga had wandered into the bush after crashing her vehicle. 'Some may wonder why I left the car, even though I had food and water,' she later said from her hospital bed. 'I lost control of the car and rolled down an embankment. I hit my head pretty badly during the crash.' Disoriented and injured, she spent 12 days alone in the outback drinking from puddles, sleeping in caves, and fending off biting insects and freezing nights. She lost 12 kilograms and suffered burns, a foot injury, and severe dehydration. On July 11, cattle farmer Tania Henley spotted the barefoot young woman at the side of a dirt road, 24 km from her abandoned van. She was flown to Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth, where she received treatment and made a steady recovery before flying out of the country under medical supervision. A quiet return Now back in her hometown, Wilga is recovering in hospital, surrounded by family. 'I'm incredibly grateful to be alive,' she said in a previous statement. 'Western Australia showed me what it means to be part of a real community.'
West Australian
3 days ago
- West Australian
Carolina Wilga: German backpacker ‘wheeled into hospital' after arriving back home
Backpacker Carolina Wilga has flown back home to Germany in business class, spotted being pushed in a wheelchair to a hospital. German newspaper BILD reported that the 26-year-old touched down at Düsseldorf Airport after a stop-over in Dubai on Sunday afternoon local time — a 20-hour journey from Perth. Ms Wilga was assisted by medical personnel in business class during the plane journey. After arriving at Düsseldorf, she was taken in a civilian ambulance to the Evangelical Hospital in Castrop-Rauxel. She was met by a nurse who, with the assistance of bodyguards, helped Ms Wilga into a wheelchair. A man was seen carrying an orange trekking backpack towards Ms Wilga. The backpacker, who survived nearly two weeks lost in the West Australian outback, farewelled Perth in a heartwarming Instagram post at the weekend. 'Reunion with the ocean and a great goodbye to Perth with loooots of hugs ❤️ love you all,' she captioned the since deleted post. She shared several photos of her time in the hospital — at Cottesloe Beach with friends and last Monday's front page of The West Australian that featured her ordeal. Ms Wilga was lost for 12 days by herself in the Wheatbelt in July, sparking a missing persons search that had the entire country on alert. She had last been seen on June 29, travelling through Beacon, before she was found alive by a passing motorist on July 11. Ms Wilga's bogged Misubishi Delica van was found by police just one day before her rescue. After she met with police, the young traveller was flown to Perth and admitted to Fiona Stanley Hospital dehydrated, traumatised and 12kg lighter. Ms Wilga was discharged on Wednesday after five days recovering in hospital.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Perth Now
Backpacker lost in Wheatbelt lands back home in Germany
Backpacker Carolina Wilga has flown back home to Germany in business class, spotted being pushed in a wheelchair to a hospital. German newspaper BILD reported that the 26-year-old touched down at Düsseldorf Airport after a stop-over in Dubai on Sunday afternoon local time — a 20-hour journey from Perth. Ms Wilga was assisted by medical personnel in business class during the plane journey. After arriving at Düsseldorf, she was taken in a civilian ambulance to the Evangelical Hospital in Castrop-Rauxel. She was met by a nurse who, with the assistance of bodyguards, helped Ms Wilga into a wheelchair. A man was seen carrying an orange trekking backpack towards Ms Wilga. Backpacker Carolina Wilga has flown back home in business class before she was seen being pushed in a wheelchair towards a German hospital. Credit: Unknown / Instagram The backpacker, who survived nearly two weeks lost in the West Australian outback, farewelled Perth in a heartwarming Instagram post at the weekend. 'Reunion with the ocean and a great goodbye to Perth with loooots of hugs ❤️ love you all,' she captioned the since deleted post. She shared several photos of her time in the hospital — at Cottesloe Beach with friends and last Monday's front page of The West Australian that featured her ordeal. Ms Wilga was lost for 12 days by herself in the Wheatbelt in July, sparking a missing persons search that had the entire country on alert. She had last been seen on June 29, travelling through Beacon, before she was found alive by a passing motorist on July 11. Ms Wilga's bogged Misubishi Delica van was found by police just one day before her rescue. After she met with police, the young traveller was flown to Perth and admitted to Fiona Stanley Hospital dehydrated, traumatised and 12kg lighter. Ms Wilga was discharged on Wednesday after five days recovering in hospital.
7NEWS
3 days ago
- 7NEWS
Carolina Wilga: German backpacker says goodbye to Perth after 12 days stranded in WA outback
The German backpacker who survived nearly two weeks lost on her own in the West Australian outback has bid farewell to Perth in a heartwarming social media post. Carolina Wilga was understood to have returned home to Europe at the weekend and, despite her traumatic ordeal, was seemingly all love and smiles as she departed. The 26-year-old took to Instagram in the early hours of Sunday morning to share several photos of her time in the hospital, at Cottesloe Beach with friends and Monday's front page of The West Australian that featured her ordeal. 'Reunion with the ocean and a great goodbye to Perth with loooots of hugs ❤️ love you all,' she captioned the since deleted post. Ms Wilga was lost for 12 days by herself in the Wheatbelt earlier this month, sparking a missing persons search that had the entire country on alert. She had last been seen on June 29, travelling through Beacon, before she was found alive by a passing motorist on July 11. After she met with police, the young traveller was flown to Perth and admitted to Fiona Stanley Hospital dehydrated, traumatised, and 12kg lighter. She was discharged on Wednesday after five days recovering at Fiona Stanley Hospital. Police last Saturday said Ms Wilga became 'lost and disoriented' while exploring the Karroun Hill nature reserve. When trying to look for her way out, she later lost control of her Mitsubishi Delica van, which police found just one day before her rescue. She survived by drinking water from puddles and sleeping in a cave. In a statement earlier this week, Ms Wilga thanked the WA community for their dedicated search efforts. 'I am certain that I survived only thanks to this incredible outpouring of support,' she said. '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. For this, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. 'Especially to the police investigators, searchers, the German Consulate, the medical staff and the wonderful nurses who took care of me with so much compassion. 'My deepest thanks also go to every single person who simply thought of me – and of course, to my rescuer and angel, Tania.'
