The woman who found missing German backpacker Carolina Wilga by the side of an outback road has described her rescue as miraculous.

Ms Wilga was discovered on Friday afternoon, after spending 11 nights exposed to freezing temperatures in WA’s Wheatbelt region.

Prior to that, Ms Wilga was last seen on June 29 at a general store in Beacon, three-and-a-half hours drive north-east of Perth.

Police discovered her abandoned vehicle deep in a nature reserve 36 kilometres north of the town on Thursday afternoon and conducted a large-scale aerial search.

Carolina Wilga miraculously survived after almost two weeks in a remote part of WA.

Police said on Saturday morning Ms Wilga became disoriented while travelling inland before losing control of her car and becoming bogged.

She was able to survive on the minimal food she had, and found water from rain and puddles.

Police said Ms Wilga sought shelter at night where she could find it, including a cave.

About 4:20pm on Friday, Ms Wilga was able to flag down a passing motorist on Mouroubra Road, about 24 kilometres from her stranded van, ending her ordeal.

Police said on Saturday morning Ms Wilga, who was taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital, had been exhausted, dehydrated, had been suffering from sunburn and had an injured foot.

‘Very relieved’

The motorist who found her, long-time local farming resident Tania Henley, told the ABC Ms Wilga was very relieved to be picked up.

“I was coming back from Beacon because I’d been down to pick up my trailer,” she said.

“She was on the side of the road waving her hands.

German tourist survives against all odds in ‘serious piece’ of WA outback Photo shows A young woman with long dark hair and brown eyes smiles for the camera as she stands in front of plants Officials and people local to the hostile expanse of Western Australia where 26-year-old German backpacker Carolina Wilga was missing for 11 days reflect on the search for the 26-year-old and her remarkable survival.

“She was probably about 40 kilometres from my homestead.

” She was very relieved. ”

Ms Henley knew straight away it was Ms Wilga, after intensifying media coverage in recent days of the 26-year-old’s plight.

“Obviously, there is nobody who comes up my way walking around,” she said.

“She was in a fragile state, but she was well. Thin, but well.

“She’d been bitten by a lot of midgies.

“She said it was very, very cold.”

‘Everything is prickly’

Ms Henley said the rescue was a “miracle”.

“Twelve days. I was thinking the worst,” she said.

“Every day would be a challenge in this weather.

Police searching for Carolina Wilga in the Karroun Hill Nature Reserve. (ABC News)

“Everything in this bush is very prickly. I just can’t believe that she survived. She had no shoes on, she’d wrapped her foot up.

“She’s a very resilient person.”

Ms Henley said it could have been days before another person was travelling on the road where she found Ms Wilga.

“Miracle is a word that gets bandied about a lot, but to survive 12 days and cross-country — she went cross country to come to my road,” she said.

‘Pure panic’

Ms Wilga spent 11 nights in the elements after leaving her bogged vehicle, a decision the German tourist told police she made in a “pure panic”.

“She’s still in disbelief that she was able to survive,” WA Police Acting Inspector Jessica Securo said.

“In her mind she had convinced herself she was not going to be located. Eleven days out there is significant.

” She got to a point where she thought no-one’s coming. ”

Inspector Securo said it was sheer luck Ms Wilga was found.

Backpacker Carolina Wilga’s van in the Karroun Hill nature reserve. (Supplied: WA Police)

“Just a member of the community. Just happened to be driving by at the right time,” she said.

“My understanding is she [the rescuer] was quite overwhelmed herself.

“It’s not often you drive in such a remote area and you come across a situation like that.”

Inspector Securo said it was unlikely Ms Wilga would be released from hospital today.

“She still needs emotional support around her, and some of her injuries attended to,” she said.

Carolina Wilga spent 11 freezing nights lost in the Western Australian outback, convinced she would never be found.

By “sheer luck” the confused and disoriented German backpacker came across a road, where she flagged down a woman in a passing car on Friday afternoon.

An “exhausted, dehydrated and hungry” Wilga has spoken to her family, had a good night’s sleep, a shower and some food, WA police acting detective inspector Jessica Securo said on Saturday.

“This is the best result we could have hoped for,” she said.

“We’re incredibly grateful that she’s been found safe, and obviously this is a huge relief for her family and all of her loved ones.

Caroline Wilga survived 11 nights in the WA wilderness with minimal food and water. Photograph: WA police

“We never gave up hope that Carolina would be found safe and well … the support of our WA community is our greatest asset, particularly in a state as vast as ours.

“It’s sheer luck. 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.”

Police confirmed on Friday night that Wilga, 26, had been found “safe and well”. She had been “ravaged” by mosquitoes, was dehydrated, exhausted, starving and had minor injuries including cuts and bruises, and was airlifted to a Perth hospital.

The temperature in the area had dropped down to 0C at night and there was heavy rain.

On 29 June, Wilga had visited a shop in Beacon, a small town about 300km north-east of Perth in WA. Her family and friends had not heard from her since and raised the alarm.

Police and volunteers started searching the remote wheatbelt area and beyond.

Wilga’s Mitsubishi van was found bogged and abandoned in Karroun Hill, about 150km from Beacon, on Thursday. Securo said Wilga had “somewhat lost control of the vehicle”, which had then become “mechanically unsound and bogged”.

She 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.

“She is still in disbelief that she was able to survive,” Securo said.

“In her mind, she had convinced herself that she was not going to be located … I’m sure she got to a point where she thought no one was coming.”

Wilga was found about 24km from her car.

Securo said Wilga was “very traumatised” and “just overwhelmed” to have been found, and that the woman who found her was “quite overwhelmed herself”.

View image in fullscreen Carolina Wilga’s van was found abandoned in Karroun Hill nature reserve. Photograph: ABC

“We are extremely thankful for her stopping and giving Carolina assistance,” she said.

Wilga had planned to explore WA then head north, Securo said, and still plans to travel Australia, with the east coast “on her bucket list”.

Wilga’s rescuer described it as a “miracle” that she survived, according to the ABC.

Tania, a local farming resident who did not want her surname used, said Wilga was “on the side of the road waving her hands” and she immediately knew who it was.

“Obviously, there is nobody who comes up my way walking around,” she said.

“She was in a fragile state, but she was well. Thin, but well. She’d been bitten by a lot of midgies. She said it was very, very cold.”

Tania said Wilga had no shoes on, and that it could have been days before someone else drove down that road. “Miracle is a word that gets bandied about a lot, but to survive 12 days and cross-country – she went cross country to come to my road,” she said.

WA police inspector Martin Glynn said Wilga had survived in a “really, really challenging environment”.

“As you can imagine, from the trauma she suffered for the last few days, she’s been obviously through a great deal,” Glynn said.

“She does have some injuries. She’s been ravaged by mosquitoes. She’s obviously been through an amazing journey, a trauma, no doubt – a testimony to demonstrating her bravery in those circumstances.

“There’s a very hostile environment out there, both from flora and fauna.”

The WA premier, Roger Cook, said he was “incredibly relieved” that Wilga had been found alive.

“This news is nothing short of remarkable,” he wrote on Facebook.

“We’re yet to have the full picture of what happened, but … we can all breathe a little easier knowing Carolina is safe and well.”

Carolina Wilga survived 11 nights lost in the Western Australian outback, found dehydrated and exhausted, but safe after flagging down help.

www.theguardian.com

Carolina Wilga, a German backpacker, survived an astonishing 11 freezing nights lost in the Western Australian outback. On July 12, 2025, her harrowing ordeal ended when she flagged down a passing car.

6 Key Takeaways Carolina Wilga lost for 11 nights.

Found by a passing woman on road.

Wilga dehydrated, exhausted, and injured.

Police grateful for community support.

Wilga’s van abandoned and bogged down.

WA premier relieved by her survival.

Wilga, who was “exhausted, dehydrated, and hungry,” had been missing since June 29. After her family raised the alarm, police and volunteers launched a search, ultimately leading to her miraculous rescue.

Fast Answer: Carolina Wilga’s survival story highlights the importance of preparation and awareness when exploring remote areas, reminding travelers worldwide to prioritize safety.

This incident raises vital questions about safety in wilderness exploration. How can travelers better prepare for unexpected situations? What resources are available for those venturing into remote areas?

Wilga’s survival demonstrates resilience in extreme conditions.

The role of community support was crucial in her rescue.

Travelers must be aware of their surroundings and potential dangers.

Travelers globally should heed Wilga’s experience as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of wilderness adventures.

As we reflect on Carolina Wilga’s incredible journey, it’s essential for adventurers to equip themselves with knowledge and tools to navigate safely in the wild.

Is there a better notebook than a Moleskine? Moleskines are popular for a reason, as they are quality objects that last, and that you also won’t be embarrassed to bring out in a meeting (unlike the shiny sequinned number that I was gifted a while ago).

They’re ideal for using as a journal or diary or just for jotting down random musings as they come up, and they usually have a handy sleeve at the back for storing documents like business cards or bits of paper, or whatever else you fancy.

And today is a good day to stock up on them or buy them as gifts (dare we say it, even very early Christmas gifts). That’s because it’s Amazon Prime Day. It’s actually the last of four Amazon Prime Days, meaning that it’s your last chance to grab a bargain before the sales event finishes.

Here are just some of the Moleskines currently on offer. Unfortunately I couldn’t find any in the fun pinky purple colour pictured above but there are different colours available if you head to Amazon.

For more deals in your area see our dedicated price checker: