Carolina Wilga, found safe.
Share this @internewscast.com

THE hero farmer who found a missing backpacker in the Australian Outback has revealed the first words she said to the lost woman.

Tania French discovered a dishevelled Carolina Wilga, 26, on the side of a remote stretch of road 12 days after the German first vanished.

Carolina Wilga, found safe.
German backpacker Carolina Wilga vanished for 12 days in the Australian Outback before she was found by a farmerCredit: Facebook
Woman in a hat being interviewed.
Tania French discovered a dishevelled Carolina on the side of a remote stretch of roadCredit: 7News
Carolina Wilga boarding a plane after being found safe.
Carolina was seen being airlifted to hospital on Friday after being foundCredit: 7NEWS
Map showing location in Western Australia where a German backpacker was found.

Tania recalled the first interaction the pair shared after she noticed the woman waving her hands in the air as she stumbled across the road.

After pulling over, Tania comforted Carolina and gave her a big hug and told the woman about the desperate search efforts over her.

Tania told 7News: “I stopped. I went out and gave her a hug, I said, ‘look, everyone has been looking for you.’

“She couldn’t believe it. She didn’t realise how long [she had been missing].”

Carolina then called the farmer from Wheatbelt, Western Australia, her “guardian angel”.

Tania was picking up a truck from Beacon on Friday – about 186 miles northeast of Perth – when she first spotted Carolina.

The road she was travelling down is a rarely used route for locals and tourists with Tania saying her seeing the German was “meant to be”.

“The chance of me going down that road and meeting up with her was incredible,” the farmer said.

“It was meant to be, because no one goes up and down that road.”

She added the backpacker looked noticeably thin but appeared in good health despite not being seen or heard from since June 29.

Missing backpacker found ALIVE after nearly two weeks wandering Oz bushland

The police suspected that Carolina had lost her bearings and wandered into the bushland when her van broke down in the Karroun Hill region of Western Australia’s outback.

The region is said to be an unforgiving expanse, described by authorities as remote, rocky and inhospitable.

After spending a night trying to repair the vehicle, Carolina decided to go off and find help on her own.

With minimal food and water, the German backpacker followed the sun’s position to head west.

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

At one point, she even reportedly sought refuge inside a cave and drank water from puddles to survive.

A Facebook page titled ‘Help Find Carolina was launched to assist the search as WA Police issued an urgent nationwide appeal for information.

Cops managed to track her last known texts which were sent to a friend in the early hours of June 29.

Photo of a dark-colored van with a roof rack, seen from the front.  A woman is visible inside.
Carolina was in a van travelling through the Outback when she broke down and tried to walk to safetyCredit: AFP
Surveillance image of a woman holding a purple item.
She was spotted wearing a long beige jumper and light blue jeans before she went missingCredit: Western Australia Police Force
Woman lying on grass, smiling at camera.
Carolina had been backpacking across Australia for two yearsCredit: AFP

At 7 a.m., Carolina allegedly mentioned that she couldn’t deliver a book and a jerry can to her friend because she had “some stuff she needed to handle.”

She was then spotted in the van at a local store in the tiny town of Beacon on June 29 at around 12.10pm.

She went missing the following day.

The van — equipped with solar panels and water — was later found on Thursday, but there was no sign of the missing woman.

Tania would be the first person to see Carolina after the ordeal as she informed police of her incredible discovery.

WA police’s Martin Glynn told reporters on Friday that Carolina is now in good health and recovering.

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

“She does have some injuries. She’s been ravaged by mosquitoes.”

Carolina had been backpacking across Australia for two years and recently worked at mine sites in regional WA.

WA Police image of a vehicle stuck in the brush.
The Mitsubishi Delica van was found abandoned on ThursdayCredit: Western Australia Police Force
Police helicopter on the ground with officers nearby.
Police wait by a helicopter in Beacon, Western Australia, on FridayCredit: AP
Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Texas sheriff arrested by his own deputies, now faces new charge for lying to grand jury

Texas Sheriff Arrested by Own Deputies, Now Charged with Lying to Grand Jury

A Texas sheriff, previously taken into custody and detained in his own…
Trump uses government shutdown to dole out firings and political punishment

Trump Leverages Government Shutdown for Firings and Political Retribution

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is approaching the government shutdown as…
Two Delta regional jets collide on taxiway at LaGuardia Airport; 1 injured

Two Delta Regional Jets Collide on LaGuardia Airport Taxiway; One Person Injured

Two Canadair jets operated by Endeavor Air, a subsidiary of Delta Air…
Jeanette Olivo not guilty by reason of insanity in stabbing of dog on Chicago's Northwest Side in 2022, police say

Chicago Incident: Jeanette Olivo Found Not Guilty in 2022 Dog Stabbing Due to Insanity Defense

CHICAGO (WLS) — A woman was found not guilty by reason of…
Manchester synagogue car and stabbing attack leaves at least 2 dead on Yom Kippur

Car and stabbing attack at Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur results in at least two fatalities

A brutal car and knife attack near a UK synagogue on Yom…
Police investigating homicide after victim dies following shooting in Birmingham

Police Investigate Homicide After Shooting Victim Dies in Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — The Birmingham Police Department is actively investigating a…
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy students to travel from Lakeview, Chicago to Vatican City for audience with Pope Leo XIV

Students from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy in Lakeview, Chicago to Visit Vatican City for a Meeting with Pope Leo XIV

CHICAGO (WLS) — On Wednesday, a group of traveling students from Our…
Prince William gives rare Kate Middleton cancer update in vulnerable talk with Eugene Levy

Prince William Shares Heartfelt Update on Kate Middleton’s Cancer Journey in Candid Conversation with Eugene Levy

Prince William provides a rare update on his wife, Kate Middleton, after…
New York City high-rise apartment building suffers partial collapse

Partial Collapse Hits New York City High-Rise Apartment Building

A portion of a New York City high-rise apartment building collapsed Wednesday…
Musk becomes first person worth $500B

Musk Achieves Status as First $500 Billion Individual

(The Hill) — Elon Musk, the technology tycoon, temporarily reached a net…
Tennessee set to execute first woman in more than two centuries

Tennessee to Execute First Woman in Over 200 Years

Tennessee is set to execute a woman for the first time in…
Immigration judge denies Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s bid for asylum, but he has 30 days to appeal

Judge Rejects Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s Asylum Request, He Has 30 Days to File an Appeal

A U.S. immigration judge on Wednesday denied a bid for asylum from…