A British backpacker travelling from Alice Springs to Adelaide was left alone at a remote South Australian roadside stop in the middle of the night after her Greyhound bus departed while she was using the toilet.

The incident happened on September 5, when the traveller, identified by ABC as Emma, was travelling south from Alice Springs. The bus stopped at Pimba, in South Australia's Far North, at about midnight. The scheduled stop was extended after a problem with the bus's onboard bathroom, giving passengers additional time before the journey continued.

Emma said she joined a queue for the toilets after the bus arrived. By the time she finished using the facilities and returned outside, the bus was no longer there. She estimated that about 15 minutes had passed from the bus arriving to her leaving the toilet, leaving her with several minutes remaining in the extended stop according to the timetable she had been given.

The location was particularly challenging because it was an isolated outback stop. The nearby service station was closed at that time of night, while the surrounding area consisted largely of desert and scrub. Emma said she had only a small backpack and some water with her, while most of her belongings, including her passport, remained on the bus.

The temperature was also low. Emma later learned that it had been about four degrees Celsius that night. She said she initially waited at the toilet block because it offered some shelter from the cold. She then attempted to contact Greyhound but said she was unable to get an immediate response.

Emma eventually called Triple Zero for assistance. At about 2:30am, a police vehicle transporting a person between Roxby Downs and Port Augusta stopped and collected her. She had been waiting for close to three hours before being taken somewhere warm and safe.

Police later worked with Greyhound to help reunite Emma with most of her luggage. She was eventually able to continue her journey to Adelaide by purchasing another regional bus ticket. She also said she had additional expenses for accommodation, food and transport because she could not continue her original journey as planned.

There were further complications involving one of Emma's bags. She said the backpack was initially supposed to be left for collection at Adelaide's Central Bus Station but was instead transferred to another location outside the city centre. She described spending several hours trying to recover it.

Emma subsequently complained to Greyhound Australia about the incident. The company confirmed that the passenger did not return to the coach after the scheduled comfort stop at Pimba. Greyhound said it worked with police to locate her and assist her to a place of safety.

Greyhound said its investigation into the circumstances was still ongoing. The company also said it had not identified any issue indicating that its emergency customer service was unavailable during the relevant period. It said the safety and wellbeing of passengers remained a priority and that it would not comment on individual allegations while the review continued.

The incident highlights the difficulties travellers can face when making long-distance journeys through Australia's remote regions, where roadside stops can be isolated and services may be unavailable overnight. It also shows the importance of passengers and operators confirming that everyone has returned to a coach before a scheduled stop ends.

For Emma, the journey ultimately continued after police assistance, replacement transport and the recovery of her belongings. Greyhound's investigation remains ongoing, while the company has confirmed that it is reviewing what happened during the Pimba stop.