Surviving 11 Nights in the Australian Outback

Carolina Wilga is a **German backpacker** whose survival after becoming lost in remote Western Australia attracted international media attention in mid-2025.[1][2][3] She is understood to be about **26 years old** at the time of the incident.[2][3] Wilga had been travelling solo in a Mitsubishi Delica van through the **Western Australian wheatbelt and outback**, reportedly exploring remote areas with possible plans to continue east.[3] She was last seen on 29 June 2025 at a general store in the small town of **Beacon**, about 300–330 km northeast of Perth.[2][3] When family and friends lost contact with her, police launched a major land and air search across the region.[2][3] Her van became **bogged in dense bushland** in the Karroun Hill Nature Reserve, roughly 35 km off a main track.[2][3] In a later written statement, Wilga said she **lost control of the vehicle, rolled down a slope and hit her head**, leaving her confused and disoriented.[1][4] Despite having food, water and clothing in the van, she left the scene in that confused state and became lost in the bush.[1][4] Wilga then spent about **11 nights to nearly two weeks** in harsh outback conditions, walking barefoot across rugged terrain, surviving on minimal food and puddles of rainwater, and enduring cold nights, mosquitoes, injuries and dehydration.[1][2] She followed the sun west in the hope of finding a road, ultimately walking around 24 km before reaching an unsealed access track.[2] On 11 July 2025 she was found alive by local farmer and motorist **Tania Henley**, who noticed her waving at the roadside more than 30 km from the abandoned van.[1][2][3] Police described her rescue as “**sheer luck**” given the remoteness and search area.[2] Wilga was airlifted to Perth, where she was treated for cuts, bruises, dehydration and fatigue, and later issued a public statement expressing deep gratitude to her rescuers and the wider Australian community.[1][2]