Carolina Wilga (26) was found 11 nights later in the Australian Outback. Photo credit: Washington State Police
A young German backpacker who disappeared in a remote bush in Western Australia was found to be alive 12 days after her car was stuck in an isolated nature reserve. Authorities praised the survival of 26-year-old Carolina Wilga as “surprising” and “opposed to the odds” after enduring nearly two weeks in the harsh wilderness alone.
Wilga was traveling solo on the Mitsubishi Van through the Carone Hill Nature Reserve, northeast of Perth. Known for its dense scrubs, sparse water sources and limited mobile reception, the area poses serious risks to unprepared travelers.
When friends and locals lost contact with Wilga, police launched a massive air and ground search across the vast Wheatbelt area. Her abandoned van was found in the air on July 10th, causing new urgency among rescuers. There were no signs of a woman near the vehicle, but searchers believed they might have widened their radius and left the reserve. The breakthrough came on the morning of July 11th. A local resident spotted Wilga walking alone along a remote bush truck about 24km from the car. She was severely dehydrated, sunburned, covered by mosquito bites, and physically weak but able to speak consciously. She was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital and is currently undergoing treatment.
Authorities said she survived overnight temperatures, minimal water, food-free freezing and near-isolated quarantine. Wilga had no mobile signal and left her van, making searches even more difficult, but admitted that it might have saved her life as she eventually reached an area close to the farm or truck. Washington State Police Inspector Darryl Glynn described the situation as “extraordinary,” noting that the survival period for such conditions is usually much shorter. “In the state she faces, she is very fortunate to survive 11 nights in such temperatures.”
He added that the general safety advice is to try and show “a tremendous courage” to seek Wilga’s patience and help when a traveler is stuck. Wilga is expected to recover physically, but it remains unclear whether she will remain in Australia or return to Germany after the ordeal. Her family was informed and expressed deep relief.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of Australia’s outback travelers, particularly for international visitors unfamiliar with the terrain. Police have encouraged all tourists to carry emergency beacons, maintain communication as much as possible, and inform others of their travel routes before entering isolated areas.
