William was found in good spirits, with his mother thanking volunteers and emergency workers for their tireless search efforts.
Separated from his camping companion and without a mobile phone, adequate food or drinking water, 17-year-old Australian boy had to find a way to survive freezing nights, difficult terrain and the uncertainty of being lost. On Thursday, November 12, that hope turned into relief when a police helicopter spotted his fishing tackle box, leading rescuers to the exhausted teenager resting beside a creek. 9 News reported that the search also involved the Public Order Response Team, Mounted Branch, Search and Rescue Squad and Victoria Police’s Missing Persons Squad.
And ABC News reported that Barkley was overwhelmed with relief and described the reunion as an almost unreal experience. AP News also reported that police considered him to be in good spirits and mostly in good health.
Footage captured the teenager smiling as he saw Elizabeth approaching the police helicopter before embracing her, according to The Guardian. Hospital chief executive Don McRae described his condition as remarkable given the circumstances and noted that his physical fitness had helped him endure the ordeal, according to ABC News. For six days, a vast stretch of unforgiving Australian wilderness became the setting for a desperate search and a mother’s agonising wait. As hundreds of rescuers searched the dense Victorian bushland, hope remained that the teenager would be found alive. William’s disappearance triggered a major search operation involving police officers, emergency personnel and local volunteers. Divers were brought in to examine nearby waterways as authorities expanded their efforts. She had been at the police staging area in Cowwarr when she received the news that her son had been found. The teenager later communicated his feelings about the rescue through his mother, expressing happiness and relief at being located after experiencing fear, loneliness, hunger and thirst. William was taken to Latrobe Regional Hospital for medical monitoring. His mother thanked the hundreds of volunteers and emergency workers who had dedicated their time to finding him.
His family later confirmed that the teenager has Level 2 autism, a condition that can involve substantial support needs and difficulties with communication and changes to familiar routines, according to information cited by AP News. He survived by drinking water from a nearby creek and rationing a family-sized packet of chicken-flavoured potato chips, which lasted him approximately two days, according to 9 News. With no phone to contact anyone, William had to navigate the challenging landscape on his own. He also managed to keep himself warm during the cold nights using two towels and a pillow. Despite the difficult conditions, he continued moving through the rugged terrain for several days while trying to find his way back, the report stated.