A 17-year-old boy missing for six days in dense Victorian bushland has been found alive, surviving on little more than a packet of chips and water after falling down a cliff and becoming trapped. William was rescued by police helicopter on Thursday morning and reunited with his mother, who said he was in 'good health and good spirits' with only sunburn and a few scratches.
William, whose surname has not been released, was last seen near Stoney Creek Road close to the T2 Track at about 4pm on Friday, November 6, while camping with a friend for the weekend. Police said he walked a short distance to another part of the campsite and failed to return. His friend searched the surrounding area before raising the alarm.
Victoria Police Air Wing officers conducting an aerial search of the Cowwarr area on Thursday spotted a tackle box in bushland about two kilometres east of Stoney Creek. Zooming in, they found William lying down close by in a creek. 'Flight officers winched down and retrieved Will before bringing him back to the command post to reunite with his mum,' police said in a statement. 'Amazingly, William is in good spirits and for the most part, in good health. He was taken to hospital for monitoring.'
His mother, Elizabeth Barkley, told reporters the teenager escaped with just 'a few scratches' and had remained in one spot, unable to move, after falling. 'He fell off a bit of a cliff and couldn't move. So he just stayed there and waited,' she said.
Barkley, who lives about 40 minutes from the search area in Morwell, said she was at the police staging ground in Cowwarr when she learned he had been found. 'They came in and told me and I waited outside until the helicopter landed, and I saw him wave as he came out,' she said. 'I never gave up hope, I knew in my heart he was still alive, and I just prayed to God for a miracle, and a miracle happened.'
William was taken to hospital for further checks. His mother said: 'He is now going to the hospital to get checked out, and after that, he's grounded for life. Never leaving my sight again,' she said.
Rescuers winched William to safety and fed him a doughnut and water. Victoria Police Acting Inspector Jason Benbow said officers were emotional to have found the teen alive. 'It doesn't happen all the time,' he said. 'I'm sure he's got a story to tell us soon, which we're very keen to hear.'
More than 100 people joined the search over the six days, including police divers, the dog squad and helicopters. William's phone, food and water had been left behind at the campsite, and authorities had been concerned about frigid overnight temperatures.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- A teenager survived six days in remote bushland with minimal supplies, demonstrating how quickly a recreational camping trip can turn into a life-threatening ordeal
- The successful rescue highlights the coordination of Victoria Police's specialised search units, including the Air Wing, divers and dog squad
- William's autism, noted by a family friend, and his inexperience camping added to the urgency of the search and the relief at his survival
Background
William, 17, from Morwell in Victoria's Gippsland region, was dropped off by his mother for his first camping trip with a friend near Walhalla East, about 180km east of Melbourne. He left the campsite on Friday 6 November to retrieve camping equipment, wearing only shorts and work boots, and did not return. His disappearance prompted a six-day search involving multiple emergency services, with overnight temperatures raising concerns for his welfare.
Key Perspectives
- Elizabeth Barkley, William's mother: 'He's doing fine, everything seems to be fine, he's in perfect health. He just stayed in one spot and waited to be rescued and I'm just over the moon he's alive.' She also joked: 'He's never leaving the house again.'
- Victoria Police Acting Inspector Jason Benbow: 'It doesn't happen all the time. I'm sure he's got a story to tell us soon, which we're very keen to hear.'
What to Watch
- William's condition after hospital monitoring: whether he sustained any injuries beyond sunburn and scratches
- Police debrief: officers expect to hear his full account of what happened during the six days
- Public awareness campaigns: the case may prompt discussion about bushland safety, particularly for inexperienced campers
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 3 sources: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedWilliam was found alive after six days in bushland.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “A missing Morwell teenager has been found alive after an incredible six-day ordeal in the bush”
- SupportedHis mother said he was “grounded for life.”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““He is now going to the hospital to get checked out, and after that, he’s grounded for life. Never leaving my sight again,” she said.”
- SupportedWilliam survived on little more than chips and water after falling down a cliff and becoming trapped.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “surviving on little more than a packet of chips and water after falling down a cliff and becoming trapped.”
- SupportedWilliam was 17.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Seventeen-year-old William, known as Will, was rescued following a six-day search.”
- Reports differWilliam was found on Thursday morning.BBC News: “He was located on Friday morning and reunited with his relieved family”
- SupportedPolice rescued William by helicopter and reunited him with his mother.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Flight officers winched down and retrieved Will before bringing him back to the command post to reunite with his mum,” police said in a statement.”
- SupportedHis mother said he was in good health and good spirits and had only sunburn and a few scratches.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “His relieved mother revealed that he escaped with just sunburn and a few scratches”
- SupportedWilliam was last seen near Stoney Creek Road, close to the T2 Track, at about 4pm on Friday, November 6, while camping with another teenager for the weekend.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Will was last seen near Stoney Creek Road, close to T2 Track, about 4pm on Friday, November 6, while camping with another teenager for the weekend.”
- SupportedPolice said: “Flight officers winched down and retrieved Will before bringing him back to the command post to reunite with his mum.”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““Flight officers winched down and retrieved Will before bringing him back to the command post to reunite with his mum,” police said in a statement.”
- SupportedWilliam’s mother said he fell off a cliff, could not move and stayed there waiting.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““He fell off a bit of a cliff and couldn’t move. So he just stayed there and waited,” she said.”
- SupportedRescuers winched William to safety and gave him a doughnut and water.BBC News: “Rescuers winched William to safety, and fed him a doughnut and a bottle of water”
- SupportedMore than 100 people joined the search over six days.Just In: “More than 100 people joined the search for the 17-year-old over six days.”