Australian teen rescued after six days lost in Victoria bushland
Seventeen-year-old William was found alive near Walhalla after a multi-day search, having survived on limited food and creek water.
A 17-year-old boy who went missing while camping in Victoria’s east was rescued on Thursday after spending nearly a week alone in dense bushland. William, whose surname is withheld, failed to return from a trip to collect additional camping gear on Friday and was reported missing around 4 p.m. He had left his phone, food supplies and water behind and was wearing only shorts and work boots.
More than 100 rescuers, including police dogs, ground teams and the police air wing, searched the area. The air crew located William on Thursday morning lying near a creek close to Walhalla, about 130 km east of Melbourne. He had taken a wrong turn on a track, slipped down a cliff and taken shelter on a rock.
During the rescue, William said he kept himself calm by singing John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” a song he described as a childhood favourite that provided comfort. He later told Seven’s Sunrise program that the song helped him feel “OK” during the nights.
"It’s a good childhood song of mine. It brings me great comfort," he said from his hospital bed in Traralgon.
William’s mother, Elizabeth Barkley, expressed relief at his safe return. The teenager reported that he survived on a packet of chicken-flavoured chips, which he rationed, and water from the creek. He also mentioned eating a McDonald’s meal before being airlifted.
"I’m over the moon to be safe," he said, adding that the nights were cold and it had rained a few times, while daytime heat caused sunburn.
Pilot Dave Wylie noted that the search was challenging because much of the terrain is thick forest, making it difficult to see the ground from the air. He said the rescue was aided by William’s location in an open area.
"If he wasn’t in the open area like he was, we absolutely could have flown right past him without seeing him," Wylie told reporters.
William was airlifted to Alfred Hospital in Melbourne for observation and testing after experiencing dehydration. He was reported to be in stable condition on Friday afternoon.