Missing teen rescued alive after six days in Victorian bushland

A 17-year-old boy was found alive and rescued by Victoria Police on November 12, six days after he went missing during a camping trip near Walhalla East in the state’s east. A police helicopter crew spotted his fishing tackle box during an aerial search, then located him near a creek and winched him to safety, police said.

William, whose surname has not been publicly released, was camping with a friend, identified in some reports as his stepbrother. Police said he was last seen at about 4 p.m. on November 6 near Stoney Creek Road, between Cowwarr and Walhalla. He had left the campsite to retrieve equipment from the drop-off area and did not return. His companion searched nearby before authorities were alerted.

The search involved more than 100 emergency personnel and volunteers, according to reports, including police specialist teams, dog teams, divers and helicopters. The helicopter crew found the tackle box in bushland about two kilometres east of Stoney Creek. Police said officers then saw William near a creek bed and lowered rescuers to bring him aboard. He was reunited with his mother at the search command post and taken to hospital for monitoring.