A German backpacker missing for 12 days in WA’s outback has been found alive.<\/p>\n
The ABC has confirmed Carolina Wilga, 26, was discovered alive late on Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Prior to that, Ms Wilga was last seen on June 29 at a general store in Beacon in WA’s Wheatbelt, three-and-a-half hours drive north-east of Perth.<\/p>\n
Police discovered her abandoned vehicle deep in a nature reserve 36 kilometres north of the town on Thursday afternoon and conducted a large-scale aerial search.<\/p>\n
A police spokesperson said Ms Wilga was found “safe and well.”<\/p>\n
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WA Police Inspector Martin Glynn said Ms Wilga was found walking along a bush track at the edge of the Karroun Hill Nature Reserve by a member of the public.<\/p>\n
“She is now en route to a hospital in Perth for some medical attention,” he said.<\/p>\n
“As you can imagine from the trauma she’s suffered for the last few days, she’s been obviously through a great deal.<\/p>\n
“She does have some injuries, she’s been ravaged by mosquitoes, she’s been through an incredible journey of trauma.<\/p>\n
“No doubt, [it] will be a testament to demonstrating her bravery in these circumstances.”<\/p>\n
‘Fragile condition’<\/p>\n
Inspector Glynn said Ms Wilga had been airlifted away from Beacon and her family had been notified of her wellbeing.<\/p>\n
He said she was in a “fragile condition” and the conditions she endured would have been “a thousand times worse” than the difficult terrain searchers experienced.<\/p>\n
“You always go out with the best of hope that you will find the person and obviously this is a great outcome for everyone involved,” Inspector Glynn said.<\/p>\n
“I think once we do hear her story it will be a remarkable story.<\/p>\n
“She’s coped in some amazing conditions, it’s a very hostile environment out there both from flora and fauna \u2026 and the weather conditions have been really adverse with temperatures getting down to zero at night.”<\/p>\n
Inspector Glynn said while the backpacker had minor injuries, she did not appear to be seriously hurt.<\/p>\n
WA Premier Roger Cook posted on social media at 5:45pm WST thanking those who assisted in the search.<\/p>\n
“This news is nothing short of remarkable,” he wrote.<\/p>\n
“To our emergency services and everyone who searched, shared information, and supported the family through this ordeal \u2014 thank you.<\/p>\n
“We’re yet to have the full picture of what happened, but tonight, we can all breathe a little easier knowing Carolina is safe and well.”<\/p>\n
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