A 26-year-old German backpacker, Carolina Wilga, has been found alive after surviving 11 nights lost in the harsh wilderness of Western Australia. Her ordeal ended on Friday when she was spotted by a driver and rescued, following nearly two weeks of isolation in the remote outback.

According to Western Australia Police, Wilga had been drinking from rain puddles, eating limited food supplies, and taking shelter in a cave after her van became stranded in dense bushland. She reportedly walked more than 24 kilometers (15 miles) from the site of her vehicle in a “confused and disoriented” state.

A Desperate Fight for Survival

Police said Wilga was found suffering from exhaustion, dehydration, insect bites, and a foot injury, which she had wrapped herself after losing her shoes. She had resigned herself to the belief that no one would find her.

“She spent 11 nights exposed to the elements,” police stated. “Her survival is nothing short of remarkable.”

Spotted by Chance

Her rescue was described as a matter of “sheer luck” by Acting Inspector Jessica Securo, who detailed the incident at a press conference.

Tania Henley, the driver who discovered Wilga by chance on a remote road, told ABC News:

“She was waving her hands. She looked so fragile. Everything in this bush is prickly, and she had no shoes on. I just can’t believe she survived.”

Wilga was airlifted to Perth for medical treatment and, according to authorities, is recovering well. After her first night in the hospital, she had a “good night’s sleep” and is now “taking things one day at a time.”

How She Got Lost

Wilga was last seen on June 29 at a general store in Beacon, a small rural town in Western Australia. Police believe she lost control of her van, which then became bogged and mechanically unusable in dense scrubland north of the town.

Authorities located the abandoned vehicle on Thursday, just one day before her rescue.

Her family, who had been anxiously awaiting news from afar, expressed immense relief and gratitude upon learning that she had been found alive.

A Story of Endurance

Carolina Wilga’s survival through searing heat, rough terrain, and limited resources has stunned authorities and locals alike.

“She’s incredibly lucky,” said Securo. “But it’s also a testament to her resilience and will to live.”