Teen Missing Six Days in Australian Bush Found Alive, Winched to Safety

A 17-year-old who vanished while camping in dense bushland in Australia's Victoria state has been found alive after six days. A police helicopter crew spotted the teenager, identified only as William, on Thursday morning and winched him to safety, ABC News in Australia reported.

His surname has not been released. Police said more than 100 people took part in the search, which involved dogs, divers and helicopters.

What happened when he disappeared?

William went missing last Friday while on a camping trip with a friend at Walhalla East, about 180 kilometers east of Melbourne, according to ABC. The Guardian reported that he is believed to have walked a short distance back to the drop-off point to fetch more camping gear. When he did not return, his stepbrother searched the area but found no trace of him.

Police said he was last seen near Stoney Creek Road, between Cowwarr and Walhalla, at about 4 p.m. on Nov. 6. He left his phone, food and water at a makeshift camp, and ABC reported that he was wearing shorts and work boots. The BBC reported that extremely cold overnight temperatures had worried authorities.

How was he found?

According to ABC, the helicopter crew noticed his fishing tackle box about 2 kilometers east of Stoney Creek and then found him asleep in a dry riverbed. Police said he had been stuck down the embankment for two days. Acting Inspector Jason Benbow of Victoria Police said William woke to the sound of the aircraft and gave the crew a thumbs up.

Earlier in the week, investigators had appealed to hunters, campers and landowners for information after a hunting camera was found in the search area, the Guardian reported.

What condition is he in?

Accounts differ in the details. ABC reported that police described William as exhausted and unable to walk, with cuts on his legs and severe sunburn on his upper body and face. His mother, Elizabeth Barkley, told reporters, as quoted by the BBC, that he had only a few scratches and seemed fit and healthy.

All the reports agree that he was talking and in good spirits. Benbow said William was smiling and giving police an account of what had happened, and ABC reported that he was eating a doughnut and drinking water. He was taken to Latrobe Regional Hospital with his mother for monitoring.

What did his family and police say?

Barkley happened to be at the police staging ground in Cowwarr when the helicopter arrived, ABC reported. She ran to the aircraft and embraced her son. She said she had never given up hope and believed in her heart that he was still alive. She said her son stayed in one spot and waited to be rescued, and she thanked the volunteers who searched for him. Speaking to reporters, she joked that he is “grounded for life.”

Benbow said he did not yet know how William survived so long without supplies or adequate clothing, and that police are keen to hear his story. He said several officers were emotional and that such outcomes are not common, calling this one the best part of the job.

Why does it matter?

Many missing-person searches in rough bush country do not end this way, and Benbow acknowledged as much. This case ended safely after a large operation, even though ABC reported that William had little to no bush experience. Police said he stayed put once he was stuck, and he was found because the crew in the air spotted his gear and then the teenager himself.

For the family, the result brings an end to a week of uncertainty. For the volunteers and police who gave days to the search, it is the outcome they hoped for. Barkley said her son once dreamed of becoming a famous footballer in the Australian Football League, though not for this reason.

What happens next?

William remains in the hospital with his mother for monitoring. Police have not said whether they will take a formal statement or what further steps are planned.

Around Prague, based on reporting by ABC News (Australia), The Guardian, BBC News

Cover photo: Philip Mallis / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped

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