A GERMAN backpacker who spend nearly two weeks lost in the Australian outback has broken her silence following her rescue.
Carolina Wilga thanked her rescuers as she revealed the reason she left the safety of her vehicle in rural Western Australia.
The backpacker has been recovering in a Perth hospital after her gruelling ordeal stuck in the harsh terrain of the outback.
She spent 11 nights wandering barefoot through the wilderness after abandoning her van when it got stuck in Karroun Hill Nature Reserve.
The 26-year-old was found in a chance encounter by farmer Tania Henley on Friday.
But the backpacker has now shared the reason why she left her van behind to spend nearly two weeks on a perilous trek through the outback.
Wilga revealed she had lost control of her vehicle and hit her head when it crashed, leaving her in a state of confusion.
She said: “Some people might wonder why I even left my car, even though I had water, food, and clothing there.
“The answer is: I lost control of the car and rolled down a slope. In the crash, I hit my head significantly.
“As a result of the accident, I left my car in a state of confusion and got lost.
“I am simply beyond grateful to have survived.”
Before her disappearance, Wilga was last seen June 29 at a general store in Beacon, 186 miles north-east of Perth.
She was then seen driving away in a black and silver Mitsubishi Delica van.
Having spent the last two years backpacking across Australia, she recently worked at mine sites in regional WA.
Her chance rescue came when she was spotted walking along on an unsealed access road.
Wilga had endured close to two weeks with very limited supplies, even going so far as to drink water from puddles and seek refuge in caves to withstand the harsh conditions of the outback.
Cops had found her bogged down vehicle less than 24 hours before she was rescued.
Wilga shared her thanks to her rescuers from “the depth of my soul”.
She said: “I am deeply impressed by the courage, helpfulness, and warmth that has been shown to me here.
“Western Australia has taught me what it really means to be part of a true community.
“Here, humanity, solidarity, and care for one another are what truly matter — and in the end, that’s what counts most.
“I am certain that I survived only thanks to this incredible outpouring of support.
“Reflecting on everyone who had faith in me, those who searched tirelessly, and those who continued to hope gave me the strength to push through my most challenging times.”
“For this, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Bush survival expert Kelli Jackson told ABC Radio Perth that anyone caught in a similar situation should always stay with their vehicle.
“It’s no surprise that people leave their vehicle,” she said.
“If you’ve been through any emergency situation, a car accident or something like that, you might remember how things go in slow motion.”
She added that the shock people feel can make them do “really weird things” like throwing their gear away or running in a random direction.
