After an accident left her stranded, Caroline Wilga survived in the outback by drinking puddle water and finding shelter in a cave. Rescued by a compassionate motorist, Wilga shared her thankfulness for the community's support during her ordeal.
Stranded German Backpacker’s Remarkable Survival Story in the Australian Outback
Stranded German Backpacker’s Remarkable Survival Story in the Australian Outback
Caroline Wilga, a 26-year-old German backpacker, expresses deep gratitude after surviving 11 harrowing days lost in the Western Australian bushland.
Caroline Wilga, a 26-year-old backpacker from Germany, expressed profound gratitude following her dramatic rescue after being lost for 11 days in the outback of Western Australia. Ms. Wilga was located on Friday after enduring a nightmarish ordeal of freezing temperatures and isolation. During her time in the wilderness, she managed to sustain herself by drinking from puddles and seeking refuge in a cave, according to reports from local police.
In her first statement after being found and airlifted to a Perth hospital, Wilga shared that she had suffered a head injury after losing control of her van, leading her to exit the vehicle in a disoriented state. A passing motorist, Tania Henley, discovered Wilga walking barefoot over 30 kilometers away from her abandoned car and brought her the much-needed support. Referring to Henley as her “saviour and angel,” Wilga described her condition upon rescue as fragile, having dealt with exhaustion and dehydration.
Following the incident, Wilga addressed her gratitude to the medical staff, the German consulate, and the many individuals who participated in the extensive search efforts. “I want to express a huge thank you from the bottom of my heart,” she stated, emphasizing the profound sense of community she felt in Western Australia. She also reflected on her initial confusion about belonging in a foreign culture but now feels deeply connected due to the kindness shown to her by the locals.
The search for Wilga began after her van was found abandoned in dense bushland in close proximity to Beacon on June 29, and police later highlighted the rescue as a stroke of luck. Wilga characterized her survival as a result of the support and hope shared by those who searched for her, which instilled the strength she needed during her darkest times.
