Teenager found alive after six days missing in Victorian bushland

A 17-year-old boy was found alive on Thursday after six days lost in dense bushland near Walhalla in Victoria’s Gippsland region, about 185km east of Melbourne.

The teenager, whose surname has not been released, was reported missing after straying from his camp near Walhalla last Friday. He had been dropped off by his mother for the weekend to camp with a friend. It is believed he walked a short distance back to the drop-off location to retrieve further camping equipment. When he failed to return shortly after, his friend searched the area but found no trace of him.

He was wearing only shorts and work boots when he went missing, with a mobile phone, food and water left behind. Police said he was last seen near Stoney Creek Road, between Cowwarr and Walhalla, on 6 November about 4pm.

Emergency service workers, including the dog and rescue squad, had been searching the dense bushland since last Friday. On Wednesday, investigators appealed to hunters, campers and landowners to come forward with any information after a hunting camera was found in the search area.

Victoria Police AirWing found William laying down in a creek near Walhalla on Thursday morning. Rescue teams had been scouring bushland from the air when they spotted the 17-year-old. Officers were winched down to the site before bringing him back to reunite him with his mother, Elizabeth.

A video captured the moment his mother first saw her son, who was sitting inside the police helicopter in shorts and workboots. He appeared to smile before embracing his mother in a warm hug as officers looked on.

“I am over the moon. He’s alive,” she told reporters at the scene. “He is never leaving the house again. He is not going anywhere.”

William was taken to hospital for monitoring.

The boy’s mother, Elizabeth Barkley, told reporters the teenager had “only a few scratches” and seemed fit and healthy. “He’s doing fine, everything seems to be fine, he’s in perfect health,” she added. “He just stayed in one spot and waited to be rescued and I’m just over the moon he’s alive.” Joking, she added: “He’s never leaving the house again.”

Police have said officers were emotional to have found the teen alive. “It doesn’t happen all the time,” Victoria Police Acting Inspector Jason Benbow said. “I’m sure he’s got a story to tell us soon, which we’re very keen to hear,” he added.

Sources

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