A 26-year-old German tourist has been found alive after surviving nearly two weeks alone in the harsh terrain of Western Australia’s outback, police confirmed.
Carolina Wilga was rescued on Friday after enduring 11 nights in the wilderness, relying on puddle water and sheltering in a cave. Authorities said she was dehydrated, exhausted, had suffered extensive insect bites, and had an injured foot.
According to Western Australia Police, Ms. Wilga had wandered around 24 kilometers (15 miles) from her van after it got stuck in dense bushland. She was described as “confused and disoriented” at the time.
“She believed no one would find her,” police reported, adding that her family was overjoyed and grateful after learning she had been found.
“Her survival came down to pure luck,” said Acting Inspector Jessica Securo at a press briefing.
Ms. Wilga had limited food supplies and sustained herself by drinking rainwater and water from puddles, police noted in a statement.
She was finally spotted by a passing motorist and flown to a hospital in Perth.
That driver, Tania Henley, told ABC that she saw Wilga by the roadside waving for help and said she appeared “extremely fragile.”
“Everything out there is sharp and rough. I’m amazed she made it. She was barefoot and had wrapped up her injured foot,” Henley recounted.
Before being found, Wilga had last been seen on June 29 at a general store in the small town of Beacon, traveling in her van.
Police located the abandoned vehicle on Thursday in thick bushland north of the town. It appeared the van had become stuck and experienced mechanical issues, leading Wilga to leave it behind and try to find help on foot.
Following her rescue, Ms. Wilga spent the night recovering in hospital. “She’s had a proper rest and is focusing on recovery, one day at a time,” Inspector Securo said.
