German backpacker drank from puddles in Australian bush ordeal

German backpacker Carolina Wilga drank water from puddles and sheltered in a cave before escaping an 11-night ordeal in the Australian bush, police said on July 12.

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The 26-year-old walked "confused and disoriented" 24km away from her van after it got stuck in remote bushland in Western Australia.

The backpacker had lost hope of being rescued, police said.

But on July 11, she managed to flag down a woman who drove her to police in the agricultural community of Beacon, north-east of Perth.

"She spent 11 nights exposed to the elements and survived by consuming the minimal food supplies she had in her possession, and drinking water from rain and puddles," police said. "She sought shelter at night where possible, including in a cave."