- William, 17, was found alive after disappearing in dense bushland near Walhalla, Victoria, for six days.
- He was reported missing after straying from his camp while on a camping trip with a friend last Friday.
- Emergency services, including police dogs, divers, and helicopters, began searching for him immediately.
- On Thursday morning, Police AirWing located William alive in the bushland.
- He was winched to safety on Friday morning and reunited with his family, who reported he was uninjured.
- William's mother, Elizabeth Barkley, expressed her relief, stating he had "only a few scratches" and was in perfect health.
- William was last seen near Stoney Creek Road on November 6 at around 4 PM.
- Authorities were concerned for his welfare due to extremely cold overnight temperatures during his disappearance.
- William's mobile phone, food, and water were left behind when he went missing.
- On Wednesday, investigators appealed for information from hunters, campers, and landowners after a hunting camera was found.
A 17-year-old boy named William was found alive after going missing for six days in the dense bushland of Victoria, Australia. He disappeared last Friday while camping with a friend near Walhalla, approximately 180km east of Melbourne.
William's mother, Elizabeth Barkley, reported that he was dropped off for the weekend but strayed from the camp to retrieve additional camping gear. When he failed to return, his stepbrother searched the area but found no trace of him.6
Authorities were concerned for his welfare due to extremely cold overnight temperatures, and a large-scale search involving police dogs, divers, and helicopters was initiated.38
On Thursday morning, police located William, who was uninjured with only a few scratches. He was rescued and fed a doughnut and water before being taken to the hospital for a check-up.
Elizabeth expressed her relief, stating, "I'm just over the moon he's alive", and humorously added, "He's never leaving the house again".
Victoria Police Acting Inspector Jason Benbow noted the emotional impact of the rescue, saying, "It doesn't happen all the time" and expressed eagerness to hear William's story.
The incident highlights the dangers of outdoor activities and the importance of safety precautions while camping.
“William, 17, was winched to safety by rescuers and given a doughnut and water before a hospital check-up. His mother, Elizabeth Barkley, said he had 'only a few scratches' and joked he's 'never leaving the house again.'”
The Guardian
