From Her Hospital Bed, Caroline Wilga Expresses Gratitude to Her Rescuers After Her Safe Return

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Key Highlights

Carolina Wilga was missing in the wilderness for 11 days before discovering her abandoned van in a remote area.
She was rescued on Friday after spending 11 nights exposed to the elements.
She expressed appreciation to everyone involved in her search and rescue efforts.

German backpacker Carolina Wilga has shared her experience after being lost for 12 days in the isolated Australian outback.

The 26-year-old is currently recovering in the hospital after enduring 11 nights under harsh conditions, following her vehicle getting trapped in a little-visited reserve in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt.

In a statement released by WA Police, along with a picture of her in a hospital bed in Perth, Wilga conveyed her deep gratitude for the immense support she received and detailed why she decided to leave her vehicle.

Authorities initiated a search for Wilga when her family reported her missing since late June. She was eventually located by local farmer Tania Henley while walking on a dirt road on Friday.

Wilga left a hostel in Fremantle on 28 June, and police tracked her final known movements using CCTV to the Wheatbelt region, around 300km from Perth.

A screenshot of aerial vision of a van bogged and surrounded by rocks and scrub.

Her van was discovered on Thursday, abandoned in dense bushland 35km away from the closest path. Source: Supplied / Western Australia Police Force

Police launched a more targeted search of Karroun Hill Nature Reserve after they found the van she had been travelling in bogged in bushland in the reserve, 35km off a main track.

It was as searchers were preparing to wind up searching for the day on Friday that Wilga was found.

“First and foremost, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks — a gratitude that comes from the core of my being! For all the amazing assistance during the search for me,” she expressed on Monday.

‘Deeply impressed’

Wilga, who had been travelling throughout Australia for two years, said she previously had not known where her place “in a culture on the other side of the world” to her own was, “but now, I feel a part of it”.

She said she was “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.”

Carolina Wilga walking onto a small aeroplane, followed by a number of people.

Caroline Wilga was found alive after being missing for 12 days and spending 11 nights alone in remote bushland. Source: AAP / ABC/PR IMAGE

Wilga said while her experience had prompted dark moments, she said she believed she survived only thanks to an “incredible outpouring of support”.

“The thought of all the people who believed in me, searched for me, and kept hoping for me gave me the strength to carry on during my darkest moments. For this, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Wilga explains why she left her vehicle

She thanked everyone who thought of her as well as police, searchers, medical staff and the German Consulate and the woman who found her: “my rescuer and angel, Tania”.

Wilga acknowledged the curiosity around her decision to walk away from her vehicle.

Survival experts and emergency services personnel in Australia often urge people to stay with their vehicle if they become lost in a remote area, however Wilga left her car, and spent 11 nights in bushland, walking 24km with minimal food and water.

“Some people might wonder why I even left my car, even though I had water, food, and clothing there,” she said in her statement.

“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.”

Wilga escaped serious physical injury, coming away from the ordeal with cuts and bruises and suffering from dehydration and fatigue.