She suffered a head injury in a car accident then survived 12 days in the wilds of Australia

A 26-year-old German backpacker, who was rescued last week after getting lost in a remote area of the Australian Outback, has released a statement about her ordeal. Carolina Wilga spent 12 days wandering around the wilderness of the Karroun Hill Nature Reserve in Western Australia.

She was incredibly lucky to have survived in “a very hostile environment” where temperatures were near freezing during the night. She survived by drinking water out of puddles and sleeping in caves at night. ABC News explained that she followed the sun everyday in the hopes of coming across a road.

Lost German tourist miraculously survives 12 days in the Outback

Wilga said in her statement, posted on the Western Australia Police Force on Facebook page, that “first and foremost, I want to express a huge thank you from the bottom of my heart.” She expressed her gratitude for all the “incredible outpouring of support,” especially to all those who were searching for her and have taken care of her as she recovers at hospital.

As to why she abandoned her vehicle, which had clothing, food and water, she explained that she had lost control of her van and it rolled down a slope. That resulted in a crash in which she “significantly” hit her head. “As a result of the accident, I left my car in a state of confusion and got lost,” Wilga shared.

“The thought of all the people who believed in me, searched for me, and kept hoping for me gave me the strength to carry on during my darkest moments,” she added.

Her car was spotted on Thursday by a crew of a police helicopter in the reserve that covers over 740,000 acres. Western Australia Police Force Insp. Martin Glynn said it was honestly “a miracle” they found the car in the “very difficult” and heavily wooded area.

The following day they searched the surrounding forest and late Friday a member of the public, named Tania, found the missing backpacker in a “fragile” state on a forest trail. Wilga called her rescuer her “angel.”

“She’s obviously coped in some amazing conditions. There’s a very hostile environment out there, both from flora and fauna. It’s a really, really challenging environment to cope in,” explained Glynn.

“I am simply beyond grateful to have survived. Thank you Australia – you are amazing,” Wilga said in her statement.

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