A 17-year-old boy has been found alive six days after he disappeared while camping at bushland in Victoria’s east.
William disappeared on Friday while camping with a friend at Walhalla East, about 180 kilometres from Melbourne.
With nothing on him but a pair of shorts and work boots, the teenager was found after an intense search involving police divers, the dog squad, and helicopters.
The 17-year-old was found this morning and reunited with his mother after a police helicopter spotted his fishing tackle box about 2 kilometres north-east of Stoney Creek.
Despite the frigid overnight conditions, his mother Elizabeth Barkley said it was a “miracle” he only had “a few scratches”.
“He’s doing fine, everything seems to be fine — he’s in perfect health,” Ms Barkley said.
“He just stayed in one spot and waited to be rescued and I’m just over the moon he’s alive.”
The mum fought back tears as she spoke to the media shortly after she was reunited with her son in Cowwarr, with the pair sharing a tight hug.
“He’s never leaving the house again. He’s grounded for life,” she said.
“He’s not going anywhere ever again. I’m just over the moon.”
William was winched to safety by officers and flown to the police staging ground, where he ate a doughnut and drank a bottle of water while being checked by paramedics. He has since been taken to a local hospital for monitoring.
More than 100 people were involved in the search for the teen over the six days, with his mum never giving up hope that he would be found alive.
“I knew in my heart he was still alive, I could feel it. I knew he wasn’t gone,” Ms Barkley said. “Thank god he’s such [a] fit person.”
She recalled the moment she first saw her son through the helicopter window.
“He said, ‘Hi mum’ and waved at me and was so happy to see me,” Ms Barkley said.
“To wrap my arms around him was just a miracle.
“You see these stories on TV and you don’t think it can happen to you, but when you do and you find them alive, it’s just … I can’t describe the words. I’m so happy, I can’t speak properly.
“I’ve been praying for this all week. To find him while I was out here, it was such a perfect … you couldn’t write the script any better.”
Ms Barkley thanked all the volunteers who spent hours searching for her son.
Victoria Police Acting Inspector Jason Benbow also shared what happened the moment William was found saying “the helicopter found him lying down, waving his arms at them.”
“We’re very happy to reunite Will with his mum.”
He also said that police were keen to hear how William had survived those six days without supplies or adequate clothing.
“I’m sure he’s got a story to tell us soon,” he said.
“There’s a few emotional police in there … this is the best thing about the job to have this sort of result at the end.
“It doesn’t happen all the time.”
Image: Victoria Police
