Australian police locate missing 17-year-old in woodland creek after six-day search
William, who has Level 2 autism, was found alive and in good spirits near Walhalla after disappearing during a camping trip last Friday.
By Tomas Gonzalez ·
The search for a missing teenager in the alpine woodlands of eastern Australia ended on Thursday when police recovered a 17-year-old boy alive after he had been lost for six days.
Acting Police Inspector Jason Benbow confirmed that William, who was camping with a friend near the former gold-mining town of Walhalla, was discovered lying asleep on a flat rock beside a creek. The location was 2 kilometers from where he had set up camp. Benbow noted that the mild spring weather and lack of rain in the region had contributed to the boy's survival during the week-long search.
William’s mother, Elizabeth, spoke to reporters shortly after her son was reunited with her. She described the emotional moment as being over the moon that he was alive, while joking that he was grounded for life and would never leave the house again. The family has stated that William has Level 2 autism, a condition that Autism360 describes as requiring substantial support. Individuals with this diagnosis often rely heavily on predictable routines and may experience distress when those routines are disrupted.
Police video footage from the rescue helicopter showed William shirtless and sunburned. He was wearing shorts and boots and had fashioned blankets from towels. Despite the harsh conditions, he appeared in good spirits and was in mostly good health upon arrival. He was subsequently transported to a hospital to have his vitals monitored.
According to police, William had walked away from his friend at the campsite to collect additional equipment but did not return. He then trekked through steep terrain for several days. Benbow explained that William became trapped in his final location due to the steepness of the surrounding land, where he remained for the last two days of his ordeal.
The rescue operation involved more than 100 emergency services personnel and volunteers. The helicopter crew located William surrounded by wilderness. Benbow stated that the boy woke to the sound of the rotor blades, gave the crew a thumbs up, and was then winched to safety.
