‘It was meant to be’: Backpacker’s rescuer describes miracle moment on remote WA road

Tania Henley is not used to seeing anyone on the remote road she takes from her home on Bimbijy Station to Beacon, in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt region.

So returning from a quick trip to the small town on Friday – “only two hours there and back” – Henley was even more surprised to see, stumbling along the side of Mouroubra Road, the waifish figure of a girl the state’s emergency services had spent the past week scouring the region for.

Henley was about 20 kilometres from home when Carolina Wilga walked out onto the road and waved her hands.

“It was pretty amazing, really – well, it was incredible. Twelve days missing. She had to walk through the bush for 12 days because [her car] was nowhere near where I found her, nowhere,” Henley said.

“She was thin, fragile – and everybody would be fragile. Twelve days to be missing out in the bush is usually not a good result, really.

“I pulled over and got out and I gave her a hug – she was crying, it was pretty emotional all right.

Bimbijy Station’s Tania Henley found German backpacker Carolina Wilga in WA’s outback.Credit: 9News Perth

“I said, ‘Everybody’s looking for you, everybody’s been worried’. She didn’t know how long she had been out there. She asked the date, and then said, ‘My mum will be worried, it’s been too long.’”

Henley said the backpacker was still wearing the poncho she was spotted on CCTV in, and had her foot bandaged, but aside from being thin, frail and tired did not seem seriously injured.

Given the remoteness and harsh conditions in the WA outback, Henley always carries at least a supply of water and electrolytes. This time, however, she had brought food including soup and an apple.

Wilga was airlifted to Perth, with friends waiting alongside media as she was admitted to hospital to be treated for mostly minor injuries sustained during her outback ordeal.

Gioia Bezemer was among the last to hear from Wilga before she set off on her trip inland when the backpacker sent her a text on June 28 saying she would return a book.

But Bezemer didn’t hear from her friend again; the next day she was spotted on CCTV in Beacon in what would be her final confirmed sighting before Henley came across her on Mouroubra Road.

“We were wondering where she had gone, why she had taken that route, what had happened,” Bezemer said as her friend arrived in Perth on Friday.

“[When we see her] I’m definitely going to throw my arms around her, and maybe get a little bit mad because what the f--- was she doing?”

Wilga remained in hospital recovering on Sunday morning.

She had been found about 24 kilometres from where her car had broken down and become bogged.

After initially staying with the car, she panicked and decided to set out on foot. But how she came to be in such a remote location in the first place remains a mystery.

Carolina Wilga was missing for almost two weeks.Credit: Facebook

Police have said Wilga had open-ended plans to explore regional WA when she became lost and, eventually, bogged.

On Sunday, WA Premier Roger Cook said Wilga had high spirits and was “in good care” in hospital.

“Everyone should take note that this is an example of just how dangerous our bushland and our outback can be,” he said.

“And everyone travelling to Western Australia should always bear that in mind. If you are looking to undertake extensive travel into regional WA, please take the necessary precautions.”

Henley – who Wilga dubbed her “guardian angel” – said the backpacker had drunk water from beehives along the road and would likely have sought shelter in a cave on Monday night, when the temperature dipped to -1C.

What amazed Henley more was that she came across Wilga while returning from Beacon, and the backpacker didn’t hear her on her first trip down the road.

“I’d been out the day before that and had a look around and thought I just wasn’t in the right area,” Henley said.

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

“I don’t go to Beacon very often, it was just meant to be, I think.

“She walked cross-country, no shoes on, it’s just an incredible feat, it’s just something you don’t do.”

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.