A 17-year-old boy missing for six days in bushland in eastern Victoria was found alive by an aerial search on Thursday, November 12. Police said William was spotted near Stoney Creek beside a dry riverbed and taken to hospital for monitoring.
He had disappeared on Friday, November 6, after leaving a campsite to collect equipment and failing to return. The camp was near Stoney Creek Road, between Cowwarr and Walhalla, about 180 kilometers east of Melbourne, according to Victoria Police.
Searchers located a fishing tackle box from the air before spotting William on a rock in the dry riverbed. Police said flight officers were lowered by helicopter to retrieve him and bring him to a command post, where he was reunited with his mother.
Search covered rugged bushland
Helicopters, specialist police units and volunteers took part in the search. The ABC reported that the discovery came during an aerial search near Stoney Creek.
Police said William was in good spirits and, for the most part, in good health. Images published after the rescue showed him sunburned. His mother told Australian media she was “just over the moon he’s alive” and said he had stayed in one place while waiting to be rescued.
Police said William had spent days walking through the rugged terrain before falling down the side of a riverbed two days before he was found. He remained there in the hope that rescuers would locate him.