Carolina Wilga, a 26-year-old backpacker from Germany, has become a symbol of resilience after surviving nearly two weeks lost in the rugged Australian outback. Rescued on Friday, she managed to endure harsh conditions by drinking from puddles and finding shelter in a cave. Reports indicate she walked an astonishing 24 km (15 miles) from her van, which had become trapped in the bushland.
Wilga's ordeal included suffering from exhaustion, dehydration, and numerous insect bites, along with a foot injury. She had initially lost hope of being found, but her family's relief was palpable upon her rescue. Western Australia police shared that she survived on minimal food supplies and rainwater collected from her surroundings.
The pivotal moment came when a passerby, Tania Henley, spotted Wilga waving for help on the roadside. Henley described Wilga as being in a fragile state, barefoot and wrapped up to tend to her injuries. Prior to her rescue on July 10, she was last seen at a general store on June 29 before police found her abandoned vehicle bogged down in overgrown terrain. After a restorative night in the hospital, police noted that Wilga is now managing her recovery day by day.
Wilga's ordeal included suffering from exhaustion, dehydration, and numerous insect bites, along with a foot injury. She had initially lost hope of being found, but her family's relief was palpable upon her rescue. Western Australia police shared that she survived on minimal food supplies and rainwater collected from her surroundings.
The pivotal moment came when a passerby, Tania Henley, spotted Wilga waving for help on the roadside. Henley described Wilga as being in a fragile state, barefoot and wrapped up to tend to her injuries. Prior to her rescue on July 10, she was last seen at a general store on June 29 before police found her abandoned vehicle bogged down in overgrown terrain. After a restorative night in the hospital, police noted that Wilga is now managing her recovery day by day.
