26-year-old Carolina Wilga was found along a private, sparsely trafficked road in the state of Western Australia on Friday. It had been twelve days since she was reported missing – and more than a day since her vehicle was found abandoned in dense vegetation.
Now Wilga is recovering at a hospital in Perth. In a statement, she tells how she lost control of her car and rolled down a hill.
"In the crash, I hit my head hard. Because of that, I left the car in a confused state and got lost", she says in the statement, published by Western Australia's police.
Wilga thanks everyone who helped search for her.
"The thought of all those who believed in me, searched for me and continued to hope gave me the strength to continue during my darkest moments", she says.
The 26-year-old was barefoot and severely exhausted when farmer Tania Henley discovered her.
Everything in the bush is very difficult. I cannot understand how she survived, says Henley to Australian ABC News.
According to the police, Wilga was dehydrated, severely sunburned and covered in insect bites. She also had an injured foot.
"She spent eleven nights exposed to weather and wind and survived by consuming the minimal food supplies she had in her possession, and drinking water from rain and puddles", they state.
