Carolina Wilga: Premier Roger Cook provides update on German backpacker’s condition at Fiona Stanley Hospital

German backpacker Carolina Wilga is in “high spirits” as she recovers in hospital after miraculously surviving 11 days alone in the outback.

The 26-year-old is in a stable condition at Fiona Stanley Hospital after her traumatic ordeal ended when she flagged down a passing motorist on Friday afternoon.

Premier Roger Cook said the young traveller was recovering in hospital on Sunday after spending two nights under the care of medical staff.

“She’s still in hospital and in good care, and I understand her spirits are high, but obviously she has to get over a very difficult, physical ordeal,” he said.

“We are so pleased that she’s managed this extraordinary, extraordinary, feat of surviving in the wild for 11 nights.

“I can’t imagine how traumatic it was for her, and I can’t imagine the elation that her mother and her family, and her friends, must have felt when they reported that she had been found safe.”

Police on Saturday said Ms Wilga became “lost and disorientated” while exploring the Karroun Hill nature reserve.

When trying to look for her way out, she later lost control of her Mitsubishi van.

After spending just one day with her van, which became bogged and “mechanically unsound” about 36km from any track, Ms Wilga braved the elements for 11 nights on foot.

She survived by drinking water from puddles, sleeping in a cave and eating the minimal food left in her van.

Across 11 days, the young tourist ventured 24km west from her vehicle by following the sun, before managing to flag down Tania French, a long-time Wheatbelt resident, as she was driving on Mouroubra Road around Bimbijy.

Ms Wilga was then taken under the arm of police — who sent extensive resources to the area — after she was located.

She was flown to Perth for medical treatment.

The 26-year-old was ravaged by mosquitoes, dehydrated, hungry, and sustained cuts and bruises before she was found.

Ms Wilga may spend several more days at Fiona Stanley Hospital.

Grave fears were held for Ms Wilga, who had not contacted friends since June 29 — the same day, she was captured on CCTV driving through the Beacon townsite, about 330km north-east of Perth, in the Wheatbelt.

Detective Acting Inspector Jessica Securo, officer-in-charge of the homicide squad, said Ms Wilga had “some open travel plans just to explore parts of WA and then further head north and towards the east coast” when she became lost.

“She is still in disbelief that she was able to survive,” she said.

“It’s sheer luck (she was found).

“The area out there, there’s mixed terrain — It can be quite dangerous, if you don’t know what you’re doing, or where you were going, it’s very easy to get lost in that area.”