German backpacker Carolina Wilga’s remarkable survival story has emerged after she was found in the Western Australian outback, where she spent 12 harrowing days alone. At 26 years old, Wilga was unexpectedly discovered by chance when a driver, Tania Henley, came across her while she had trekked over 24 kilometres, orienting herself by the sun in hopes of reaching help.
During her extended ordeal, she relied on puddles for hydration and sought shelter in caves, exhibiting remarkable resilience. Wilga, who initially believed she might never be found, expressed disbelief at her survival when authorities located her.
After getting separated from her vehicle, which had become bogged down in an isolated area, she made the difficult decision to leave it behind and attempt to find assistance on foot. Henley, upon encountering Wilga and seeing her distress, comforted her with a hug and quickly informed the police about her miraculous discovery.
Despite being dehydrated, exhausted, and suffering from mosquito bites and an injury to her foot, Wilga remained alive against significant odds. After Henley provided her with an apple, the authorities were notified, and she was subsequently airlifted to Perth for medical care.
Wilga’s family reported her missing after they were unable to contact her, which prompted a search effort involving police and the homicide squad across a vast area northeast of Perth. Her abandoned van was eventually located with the help of aerial surveillance.
Friends of Wilga expressed their immense relief upon her safe return and visited her in hospital, where she is recovering. Despite the traumatic experience, she remains determined to continue her travels in Australia once she is well again. Officials have taken this opportunity to remind fellow travellers to be well-prepared for their adventures, advocating for safety measures like personal locator beacons and advising to remain with vehicles when lost, which are considerably easier to find.