A teenage boy who was missing for six days after going on his first ever camping trip with a friend has been found alive.
William, whose last name has not been released, was staying at Walhalla East in eastern Victoria on Friday afternoon when he walked to another part of the site near Stoney Creek Road and T2 Track but failed to return.
The 17-year-old, who has level two autism requiring ‘substantial’ support, was wearing only a pair of shorts and work boots at the time. He had also left his phone at the campsite.
William’s friend ran to get help after the teenager did not return to the campsite and managed to wave down the driver of a white ute.
Police had held grave fears for the Latrobe Valley teen, who they said may have become disoriented and lost his way in the treacherous terrain.
The Bureau of Meteorology reported temperatures dropped as low as 3C and 4C at Walhalla during the six days he was missing.
But, fortunately, William was found alive on Thursday morning and was pictured on a stretcher as emergency services attended to him.
He was transported by helicopter to a search base at Cowwarr, roughly 30km north of Traralgon in Gippsland, according to the Herald Sun.
William, whose last name has not been released, was on a camping trip on Friday when he walked to another part of the site near Stoney Creek Road and T2 Track, but failed to return
William disappeared while with a friend at Walhalla East (above) east in Victoria’s east
The 17-year-old was found alive on Thursday morning
His mother, Elizabeth Barkley, told reporters on Thursday that William was doing well and appeared to be in perfect health.
‘He’s doing fine, everything seems to be fine – he’s in perfect health,’ she said.
‘He just stayed in one spot and waited to be rescued and I’m just over the moon he’s alive.’
She joked that he would never be allowed to leave the house again.
‘He’s grounded for life,’ she said, according to the ABC.
‘He’s not going anywhere ever again. I’m just over the moon.’
Officers from the Public Order Response Team, Dog Squad, Mounted Branch and Search and Rescue Squad were also deployed, with State Emergency Services personnel assisting in the search.
More to come.
