German backpacker Carolina Wilga to release book about miracle survival in WA outback
A German backpacker who was rescued after spending 12 days in the bush of Western Australia is publishing a book about his fight to survive in the Australian outback, a year after the dramatic rescue.
Carolina Wilga, then 26, was visiting WA when she disappeared from the regional Wheatbelt town of Beacon on June 29 last year.
The German backpacker was in his car when he lost control and crashed into the bog, hitting his head in the process.
Miss Wilga became confused and walked away from her vehicle, disappearing into the dense and dangerous bush.
His disappearance sparked a massive search that lasted 12 days, with more than 100 officers on the case.
Although authorities managed to find his car stuck in dense bushes, he was nowhere to be found.
Until he was spotted on the side of the road by local Tania Henley on July 11.
A year after her dramatic rescue, Miss Wilga breaks her silence with a new book revealing her experiences during the tense 12-day search.
The book, Escaped from the Outback, by Ms. Wilga and Kathrin Nord, is “a special survival story of a young German woman whose disappearance in Australia shocked the world.”
The book is scheduled to be published in Germany in September this year and is about his “fight for survival” in the countryside.
“Barefoot, wearing only a dress and scarf, he travels through dry scrubland for twelve days,” the book’s description read.
“He endures bitter cold nights and scorching heat during the day, drinks dew from grass and builds shelters from branches and roots.”
The book comes a year after Miss Wilga was found and rescued by Miss Henley, who spotted the backpacker on the side of the road on her way home from a shopping trip.
Speaking to 9News, Ms. Henley said Ms. Wilga came across Bimbijy Road and raised her arms for help.
Returning home from the supermarket, Ms Henley said her bag was “unusually” full of snacks.
The duo then headed towards emergency crews who stood by for an hour.
Ms. Wilga told her rescuer that the conditions were freezing, which he said might have helped her “very well survive.”
“He said it was 12 degrees and raining, no snow and it felt like it was in Australia in winter,” Ms Henley said.
“He had frostbite on his feet and when I found him he had wrapped one of his feet with his scarf.”
Ms. Henley recalled being unable to say goodbye to Ms. Wilga as she was taken away for medical treatment.
“I didn’t have time to say thank you and say goodbye,” he told 9News.
Ms Wilga spent six days at Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth, where she was treated for multiple mosquito bites.
He then returned to Germany, where he was greeted by a nurse and a group of guards.
After her rescue, Ms. Wilga thanked her rescuers on social media.
“Before, I didn’t know where my place was in a culture on the other side of the world, but now I feel like I’m part of it. I’m touched by the courage, helpfulness and warmth shown to me here,” he said.
“Western Australia taught me what it really means to be part of a real community. What really matters here is humanity, solidarity and caring for each other, and ultimately that’s what matters most.
“I’m confident that I survived only because of this incredible support. The thought of all the people who believed in me, looked for me, and continued to hope in me gave me the strength to carry on through my darkest moments.”
