Australian police announced on 11/7 that 26-year-old backpacker Carolina Wilga had been found "safe and well" after 12 days lost in the Western Australian desert.
Wilga, a German national, was last seen on 29/6 at a shop in Beacon, a small town about 300 km northeast of Perth. Her family and friends reported her missing after not hearing from her.
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Carolina Wilga. Photo: ABC |
Carolina Wilga. Photo: ABC
Police and volunteers launched a search. Wilga's car was found bogged down in the Karroun Hill Nature Reserve, about 150 km from Beacon, on 10/7. Police believe Wilga lost control of her vehicle before it broke down and became stuck in the remote area.
After spending a day in the car, a panicked Wilga set out on foot, using the sun to navigate west. With limited food and water, she relied on rainwater and puddles for survival.
She endured mosquito bites, dehydration, exhaustion, hunger, and scratches. Nighttime temperatures in the area had recently dropped to 0 degrees Celsius, accompanied by heavy rain. Wilga found shelter in a cave.
On the afternoon of 11/7, after 12 days lost and disoriented, Wilga spotted a road and flagged down a passing motorist. The location was about 24 km from her abandoned vehicle.
The driver, Tania, said Wilga was without shoes and could have been stranded for days longer. "The word miracle is often overused, but for her to survive 12 days and walk through that wilderness to get to that road I was on, is a miracle," Tania stated.
Wilga was flown to a Perth hospital. "She still can't believe she's alive," said Inspector Jessica Securo. "I'm sure there were times when she thought no one was coming."
Inspector Securo described Wilga's rescue as "pure luck." "It's quite rugged terrain, and it would be relatively dangerous if you don't know what you're doing or where you're going. It's very easy to get lost," Securo added.
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Location of Perth, Beacon, and Karroun Hill Nature Reserve. Graphic: Guardian |
Location of Perth, Beacon, and Karroun Hill Nature Reserve. Graphic: Guardian
Following her rescue, Wilga contacted her family, slept, showered, and ate. She plans to continue her Australian travels, with the east coast as her next destination.
Pham Giang (Guardian)
