A 26-year-old German backpacker, Carolina Wilga, has been rescued after spending 11 days lost in the rugged Australian outback. Police reported that Wilga survived by drinking rainwater and puddles, and sleeping in a cave, after her van became lodged in the remote bushland.
Having wandered approximately 24 kilometers (15 miles) from her vehicle, she found herself in a "confused and disorientated" state. Throughout her ordeal, Wilga endured exhaustion, dehydration, and numerous insect bites, as well as an injured foot. Her family expressed immense relief upon her rescue, as police had indicated she believed she would not be found.
“She spent 11 nights exposed to the elements, surviving on limited supplies and rainwater,” an official statement from Western Australia Police mentioned. Acting police inspector Jessica Securo described the rescue as a matter of "sheer luck."
On Friday, Wilga was spotted by a driver, Tania Henley, who noticed her waving for help by the roadside. Henley noted that Wilga was in a "fragile state," having gone without shoes and wrapping her injured foot. Prior to her disappearance, she was last seen leaving a general store in Beacon, Western Australia, on June 29.
An investigation revealed that her vehicle had become mechanically damaged, leading to its abandonment. According to Securo, Wilga has since received medical attention and has had a restful night in the hospital, embracing a hopeful outlook as she takes her recovery "one day at a time."
