Carolina Wilga recounts survival after 11 nights lost in Australian outback

German backpacker Carolina Wilga has shared details of her survival after spending 11 nights lost in the Western Australian outback. The incident occurred in late June 2025 when Wilga, then 26, disappeared while traveling in a van.

Wilga recounted that her ordeal began after an irrational moment of fear during a drive from Beacon to Perth, where she steered her vehicle into a fence to avoid what she perceived as oncoming lights. Following the accident, she abandoned her Mitsubishi Delica van and attempted to walk through the wilderness, likely suffering from concussion and hallucinations. She described experiencing extreme cold and sensory distortions, such as seeing stars falling from the sky.

Wilga, who has since published a book titled ‘Dem Outback entkommen’ (Escaping the Outback), credited her yoga training and breathing techniques for helping her manage panic during the ordeal. She noted that thoughts of her family provided the motivation necessary to keep moving despite hunger, thirst, and freezing temperatures.