German backpacker Carolina Wilga's 'remarkable' survival in hostile outback terrain

The 26-year-old German backpacker is being treated for dehydration in a Perth hospital, after she was found by a local farmer on Friday evening.

Transcript

00:00Carolina Vilga continues to recover in hospital after spending nearly two weeks wandering the

00:07bush in WA's Wheatbelt region, enduring extreme conditions. Ms Vilga spent 11 nights exposed to

00:15freezing temperatures when she was found 24 kilometres from her bogged vehicle. Her survival

00:22has been described as a miracle, with minimal food and water, drinking from rain and puddles.

00:28The 26-year-old backpacker and German national was taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital after she was

00:35found in a fragile condition with minor injuries including an injured foot and some cuts and

00:41bruises. She was extremely exhausted and suffering from dehydration, sunburn and mosquito bites.

00:48The ordeal came to an end Friday afternoon when a local pastoralist, Tanya Henley, was driving past.

00:55Ms Vilga sought shelter at night where she could find it, including a cave. She's been receiving

01:01medical treatment and emotional support. It comes about six months after a local prospector

01:08disappeared in the same area. Barry Podmore, aged 73 at the time of disappearance, was last seen on

01:15the 3rd of December but has not been found. With the news of Ms Vilga's disappearance so soon after

01:21Mr Podmore's authorities and locals feared for her welfare but now breathe a sigh of relief following her rescue.

01:28following her rescue.