Coorong attack on foreign backpackers won’t deter other adventure-seekers

THEY admit they’ve been shaken by a story of a barely imaginable terror, but young backpackers visiting South Australia say they won’t let the Salt Creek case deter them from their adventures.

11/2/16. McLaren Vale Backpackers - Romy von Mengershausen - 18yrs (Germany), Sarah Campos Y Becenna - 23yrs (Belgium) and Mathilde de Bremond d'Ars - 22 yrs (France). Pic: Keryn Stevens

• THE ATTACK: Police hunt for other victims as mans’ father speaks
• THE RESCUERS: Fishermen speak out after a horrifying night
• THE SCENE: Isolated and quiet, this beach should be a relaxation haven
• THE ACCUSED: Online profiles show man was ‘looking for a wife’
• IN HINDSIGHT: A backpacker remembers her trip around Australia

THEY admit they’ve been shaken by a story of a barely imaginable terror, but young backpackers visiting South Australia say they won’t let the Salt Creek case deter them from their adventures.

“I think it’s a situation that could happen to anybody,” French tourist Mathilde de Bremond d’Ars, 22, said.

“I’m travelling with my friend, we are two young girls. We are meeting people who drive us, we’ve been camping.

“We’ve met some good ­people ... we’ve never met bad people. I think I’d do it again, but this incident is a warning to us that we have to be more careful.”

Sarah Campos Y Becenna, 23, said the dangers of holidaying in Australia were no different to those in her home country.

“I think this kind of thing can arise in any place ... whether I’m in Belgium or Australia,” she said.

“It’s dangerous, all your life you take risks. You have to pay attention to what you do and with what kind of people you stay with.”

She hoped the Salt Creek incident would not deter anyone from visiting SA.

German backpacker Romy von Mengershausen, 18, is travelling and working her way around Australia alone. She arrived in Adelaide a week ago.

“It definitely won’t change my experience,” she said.

She said she was careful when meeting new people and selective about who she spent her time with.

“I will surely go camping again, but I will be more careful with people I meet on the internet, people I haven’t met before in person or known for a long time.”

She advised young women holidaying in Australia to always tell someone of their plans.

Miila Westin, 28, of Finland, who has visited every continent except Antarctica in the past decade, said the incident reaffirmed her safety procedures when travelling.

“I always meet people first and make sure I know they are OK before I go anywhere,” she said. “I am very cautious ... I look to go with several people to ensure safety.”

Ms Westin travelled from the eastern states to Adelaide after meeting Max Dressler, of Germany, and getting to know him and other backpackers.

Mr Dressler said he trusted his own safety measures when travelling, such as knowing who you are travelling with and telling loved ones where you are and when you expected to reach your destination.