Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Police in a helicopter spotted the tourist’s van PA

German backpacker found after 12 days missing in Australian bush

A member of the public found the 26-year-old on a bush track at the edge of a nature reserve.

LOST GERMAN BACKPACKER Carolina Wilga was found alive but “ravaged by mosquitoes” on Friday, 12 days after going missing in remote bushland in Western Australia.

A member of the public found the 26-year-old on a bush track at the edge of a nature reserve, and she has been taken to hospital in Perth for treatment, police said.

“She’s been ravaged by mosquitoes. She’s obviously been through an amazing journey, a trauma, and no doubt will be a testimony demonstrating her bravery in the circumstances out there,” WA police inspector Martin Glynn told reporters.

“I think once we do hear her story, it will be a remarkable story.”

Television images showed her gingerly climbing the steps into a light turboprop plane to be flown out for medical treatment, wearing a long beige dress and blue cardigan.

Wilga had been last seen on 29 June arriving in a Mitsubishi van at a general store in the small agricultural community of Beacon, northeast of Perth.

Police found the van on Thursday apparently abandoned after getting stuck in dense bushland north of there, sparking a major land and air search of the area.

“She’s obviously coped in some amazing conditions. There’s a very hostile environment out there, both from flora and fauna. It’s a really, really challenging environment to cope in,” Glynn said.

No serious injuries

“The weather conditions have been really adverse, with temperatures getting down to zero. Night has been rain. There’s been reports of all sorts of challenges in that terrain.”

Her van was found with plastic orange traction tracks placed beneath the rear wheels, apparently after getting stuck in the terrain.

It was unclear exactly where she was found, or how far she had strayed from the vehicle.

“She would have covered a lot of ground in that time as she tried to make her way out of there,” Glynn said.

The backpacker was taken to Beacon “in quite a fragile condition”, then flown to Perth for medical treatment.

“She doesn’t appear to have any serious injuries. She obviously has a lot of significant minor injuries,” Glynn said, adding that Wilga would receive medical attention.

“Hopefully, once she recovers, a better assessment can be made.”

Wilga’s family has been notified, police said.

“It’s a really good outcome,” Glynn told reporters.

“We are constantly involved in these sorts of situations and it’s delightful, obviously, when you get an outcome like this. It makes everything, all the effort, worthwhile – absolutely.”

Police say she had spent two years backpacking around the country, and was working at mine sites in Western Australia.

Author
View 17 comments
Close
17 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute muirhill121
    Favourite muirhill121
    Report
    Feb 12th 2021, 8:16 PM

    Ireland’s favourite Italian since Schillaci!

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute a politicians promise is as good as a lie
    Favourite a politicians promise is as good as a lie
    Report
    Feb 12th 2021, 8:21 PM

    @muirhill121: Super Mario

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick McGuinness
    Favourite Mick McGuinness
    Report
    Feb 12th 2021, 9:07 PM

    I think Emperor Nero could form an Italian Government at this rate.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James O'Donovan
    Favourite James O'Donovan
    Report
    Feb 13th 2021, 12:05 AM

    @Mick McGuinness: and a successful one at that.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John McSweeney
    Favourite John McSweeney
    Report
    Feb 14th 2021, 8:23 AM

    I don’t know how Italian democracy has survived. It has had something like 65 governments since WW2 (on average each lasts just over a year). How can a country operate like that for so long??

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds