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Hero who found missing backpacker Carolina Wilga reveals German woman’s first words after rescue

The tourist had been missing for 11 days in bushland when she was found on a remote road.

Heroic farmer who rescued Carolina Wilga speaks about miraculous meeting

Hero who found missing backpacker Carolina Wilga reveals German woman’s first words after rescue

The tourist had been missing for 11 days in bushland when she was found on a remote road.

The heroic woman who found missing German backpacker Carolina Wilga on the side of a remote stretch of road in Western Australia immediately gave her a hug and told her about the frantic search efforts to find her.

Wheatbelt resident Tania French was going to pick up a trailer on Friday when she discovered a dishevelled Wilga, 26, who had been missing for the past 11 days stranded in the bush.

French spotted Wilga when she was heading back to her homestead near Paynes Find after a trip to Beacon, about 333 kilometres northeast of Perth.

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French said: “I stopped. I went out and gave her a hug, I said, ‘look, everyone has been looking for you.’ She couldn’t believe it. She didn’t realise how long (she had been out there).

“She said, ‘you’re my guardian angel’ and I said, ‘I don’t know about that.’

“But she’s just one very lucky person.”

Heroic rescuer Tania French spoke to 7NEWS about the incident moment she found missing German backpacker Carolina Wilga.
Heroic rescuer Tania French spoke to 7NEWS about the incident moment she found missing German backpacker Carolina Wilga. Credit: Seven

Wilga apparently drank from puddles of rainwater and slept in a cave to survive her ordeal. After being found alive, she was airlifted to Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth.

French spoke of how Wilga waved her down.

“(When) I was coming back she was on the side of the road, and then she just walked out and waved her hands,” French said.

The farmer immediately knew it was the missing backpacker.

“I knew who it was. I mean, who else would be out here? What a relief.”

Backpacker Carolina Wilga was airlifted to Perth for medical treatment.
Backpacker Carolina Wilga was airlifted to Perth for medical treatment. Credit: Seven
Wilga slept in a cave and drank from puddles to stay alive during her 12-day ordeal.
Wilga slept in a cave and drank from puddles to stay alive during her 12-day ordeal. Credit: Seven

French added that the encounter was “meant to be”, saying the chance meeting occurred on her way back home.

“The chance of me going down that road and meeting up with her was incredible,” French said.

“She didn’t hear me when I went down (to Beacon), so she wasn’t at that spot (by the side of the road).

“It was meant to be, because no one goes up and down that road.”

French said Wilga looked remarkably well for someone who had been lost in the bush for so long.

“She was well. Thin, but well. Fragile,” French said.

“I did actually say to her, you know, ‘you can tell your grandkids about this, because you weren’t meant to go that day’.

“It was meant to be. She hadn’t got to the spot, I hadn’t got to the spot, and we just kind of met on the road. It’s pretty amazing, really.”

WA Police Acting Inspector Jessica Securo said on Saturday: “Extremely lucky and we’re extremely grateful to that member of the community who helped us.

“Overall, (Carolina) just relieved that she had come across someone and was able to get that help.”

Wilga’s Mitsubishi van was found in dense bushland on Thursday in the Karroun Hill Nature Reserve, about 35km from the main track.

It was bogged in mud following rain and she had tried to free it but had apparently failed.

Wilga left the car in an attempt to seek help elsewhere.

Authorities combed the surrounding area on foot and by air but were unable to find her.

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