A teenager missing for six days in dense bushland in eastern Victoria was found alive on Thursday morning and reunited with his mother. William, 17, whose surname has not been released, was located by the Police AirWing in a creek near Walhalla, about 185km east of Melbourne.
Crews searching the bushland from the air spotted William lying down beside the water. Officers were lowered by winch to reach him before bringing him back for a reunion with his mother, Elizabeth. He was later taken to hospital, where he was to be monitored following his time missing in the bush.
Footage of the reunion showed Elizabeth approaching her son as he sat in the police helicopter, still dressed in shorts and work boots. William appeared to smile before the pair embraced, with officers watching nearby. Speaking to reporters at the scene, Elizabeth said: “I am over the moon. He’s alive.” She added: “He is never leaving the house again. He is not going anywhere.”
William had gone to the area for a weekend camping trip with a friend. His mother dropped him off on Friday, 6 November, and he was reported missing after wandering away from the camp near Walhalla. Police said his last known sighting was at about 4pm that day near Stoney Creek Road, between Cowwarr and Walhalla.
Investigators believe William had set out on a short walk back to the place where he had been dropped off, intending to collect more camping equipment. When he did not return soon afterwards, his friend began looking around the area but could find no sign of him.
The teenager was wearing only shorts and work boots when he disappeared. His mobile phone, food and water had all been left behind, and emergency service workers began searching the surrounding dense bushland on the Friday he went missing.
The search involved personnel from the dog and rescue squad as well as teams scanning the area from above. It continued through the following days until the helicopter crew located William on Thursday morning.
On Wednesday, before William was found, investigators had asked hunters, campers and landowners to share any information that could assist them. That appeal followed the discovery of a hunting camera within the search area.
