You might be thinking of the deserts in Africa, but the WA outback in Australia can be just as unforgiving. German backpacker Carolina Wilga, 26, found that out the hard way when her van broke down and she got lost for 11 nights in freezing temperatures.

Carolina was exposed to temperatures that dipped as low as 12 degrees Celsius, with rain and no snow to shelter her. Yet, she somehow managed to survive, thanks to her determination and a bit of luck. The tiny Wheatbelt town was thrust into the spotlight when Wilga was found alive, and now, the German backpacker has reportedly been offered a publishing deal.

Station owner Tania Henley was the first person to spot Carolina, who had been walking along Mouroubra Road, near Karroun Hill. Henley was returning from a shopping trip when she saw Carolina, who she thought was dead. Carolina had been stuck on the road for hours, trying to get help.

‘I mean I thought she was dead and she thought she was going to die,' Henley said in an interview with 9News Perth.

The rescue was led by WA Police Detective Jessica Securo, who had deployed over 100 officers to search for Carolina. The search was difficult, given the remote location and the harsh conditions.

‘As time went on the concern for her safety grew and at times wondered if we would find her alive,' Securo said.

Carolina's ordeal began on the morning of her rescue, when she spotted a van driving down Mouroubra Road. She tried to flag down the driver, who turned out to be Tania Henley. Henley took Carolina to emergency crews, but there was no time for thank-yous or goodbyes.

However, months after she was found, Carolina thanked her rescuer in a text message. Carolina had been at Fiona Stanley Hospital for six days, with mosquito bites all over her body. But the extent of her injuries remained unclear until she told Henley about her frostbite.

‘She got frostbite on her feet and when I found her she had one of her feet ... wrapped up with her scarf,' Henley said.

Henley hopes to be reunited with Carolina at some point in the future. ‘Well it has changed my life, for better or worse, finding her – maybe my outlook on life,’ she said.

Carolina's story of survival made international headlines, with the image of her stepping onto a police jet now famous. And it's a reminder of the dangers of the WA outback, and the importance of being prepared in emergency situations.

Key Facts

  • Carolina Wilga was exposed to temperatures as low as 12 degrees Celsius for 11 nights
  • Henley had packed an unusual amount of snacks in her van
  • The rescue was led by WA Police Detective Jessica Securo
  • Carolina was taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital for six days
  • She has reportedly been offered a publishing deal