Backpackers allegedly attacked in South Australian Outback

It is alleged the incident occurred at a campsite at Salt Creek and left the women with serious injuries. Photo / Getty

Two young foreign backpackers continue to recover in hospital after an alleged sex attack at a national park, southeast of Adelaide.

A 59-year-old man has been charged with a string of offences including unlawful sexual intercourse and attempted murder.

It is alleged the incident occurred at a campsite at Salt Creek on the SA Coorong on Tuesday and left the women with serious injuries.

The southern suburbs man appeared in court on Wednesday and will remain in custody until at least April 18 when he is due to face a second hearing.

The women had only met the man on Tuesday and had set up camp with plans to spend the night at the beach, police said.

They later found themselves in a "dire" situation.

"One of the victims was able to run away and came across some people who were fishing in the area and they were able to comfort and secure her and make phone calls to police," Superintendent James Blandford told reporters.

One of those men was fisherman Abdul-Karim Mohammed, who said the scene was confronting with the woman screaming, crying and yelling.

"She had some scratches and that on the legs. Looked like she'd been pulled around, dragged around and that," he told Seven News.

In the Adelaide Magistrates Court the charged man was dressed in a white hospital gown and made no comment during the video link appearance from Murray Bridge.

His lawyer considered a bail application but withdrew it after the magistrate said he would need considerable convincing based on the seriousness of the charges.

-AAP