Australiaupdated 21m ago2 min read
MapPolice Find 17-Year-Old William Alive After Six Days Lost Near Walhalla East
“William's family have said he has Level 2 autism.”
“The 17-year-old disappeared on Friday while on a camping trip with his friend.”
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL · Cropped for layout
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17-year-old William went missing while camping near Walhalla, Victoria, six days earlier. A police helicopter found him and he was winched to safety.
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Found after six days
Police found 17-year-old William alive after six days lost in Victoria’s east bushland near Walhalla East, and a police helicopter crew winched him to safety on Thursday. William disappeared on Friday after setting up camp near the T2 track with his step-brother, and police said they believe he may have become disoriented and lost his way in the surrounding terrain.
Police said the helicopter crew spotted a tacklebox in bushland in the Cowwarr region, just east of where William disappeared, and rescuers found William laying down close by in a creek. Victoria Police said William was in good spirits and for the most part in good health, and officers reunited him with his mum at the command post before taking him to Latrobe Regional Hospital for monitoring.
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Police said William was last seen near Stoney Creek Road, between Cowwarr and Walhalla, on 6 November at about 4pm, after he missed a turn-off back to his camp and curled up under some bushes.
Acting Inspector Jason Benbow said, "The search area today was something we couldn't do on foot, it was way too steep and beyond the capabilities of any human, to be honest."
Elizabeth Barkley told A Current Affair that she was shocked how well her son was after his ordeal, saying, "He's in a talkative spirit — he's happy, he's hungry,".
Victoria Police said the helicopter found William lying down, waving his arms at them, and Benbow said, "It doesn't happen all the time. I’m sure he’s got a story to tell us soon".
Autism, hospital monitoring
William’s family have said he has Level 2 autism, and Autism360 said that requires "substantial support" and that disruption can cause significant distress.
Police said William had spent days walking through extremely rugged and rocky terrain before he fell down a steep riverbed embankment two days ago, and he spent the past two days sleeping and waiting to be found.
Elizabeth Barkley said the reunion felt like an "out-of-body experience," and she told reporters, "He's never leaving the house again. He's grounded for life."
Victoria Police said William was taken to a hospital for monitoring, and the hospital’s CEO, Don McRae, said it was "extraordinary to see him so well".