German tourist Carolina Wilga was found alive in a remote part of Australia’s Outback 12 days after she went missing. She was found on Friday, just one day after police discovered her abandoned van.
The 26-year-old traveller was last seen on June 29, the same day she last contacted her family and friends. She was spotted at a general store in Beacon, an agricultural settlement located about 320 km northeast of Perth, the capital of Western Australia.
Western Australia Police Inspector Martin Glynn said a local resident saw Wilga walking along a forest trail on Friday evening. He said the woman was in a “vulnerable condition” but had not suffered any serious injuries. She was taken to a Perth hospital for medical examination and treatment.
“When we hear her story, it will probably be incredible,” Glynn said, adding that her rescue was a great outcome for her family and everyone involved in the search. He emphasised that conditions in the area are extremely harsh: “It’s a very harsh environment — both the flora and fauna present serious challenges. Surviving in such conditions is a real test.”
The area where Wilga went missing is a nature reserve covering more than 300,000 hectares. The temperature dropped to 2.6 °C on Thursday night, with no precipitation. A police helicopter spotted the tourist’s van on Thursday in the wilderness of the Karrun Hill reserve, about 36 km north of Beacon.
“The terrain is very difficult to access, and, frankly, it’s a miracle they spotted the car,” Glynn told reporters. On Friday, ground search teams combed through dense forest within a 300-metre radius of where the van was found. Police believe that Wilga’s vehicle, a 1995 Mitsubishi Delica Star Wagon, got stuck in the mud on the day she left Beacon.
The van was equipped with solar panels and a supply of drinking water. Special devices were installed under the rear wheels to improve off-road performance. The police see no signs of foul play and believe that the woman simply lost her way.