Seventeen-year-old William, known as Will, has been found alive after disappearing for six days in rugged bushland in Victoria. He was camping with another teenager in Walhall East, approximately 180 kilometers east of Melbourne, when he ventured a short distance away to another part of the campsite near Stoney Creek Road and the T2 Track. When he did not return, his companion searched the area but could not locate him, prompting a major search operation by local police and emergency services.

The search for Will involved a coordinated effort from Victoria Police, which set up a command post in Cowwarr. Officers from various units, including the Public Order Response Team, Dog Squad, Mounted Branch, and Search and Rescue Squad, were deployed alongside personnel from the State Emergency Services. Concerns grew for Will's safety as he was minimally dressed in just shorts and work boots, especially with inclement weather conditions over the weekend.S2

On Thursday, Will was found sitting upright with only a few scratches, and his mother, Elizabeth Barkley, expressed her overwhelming relief, stating, "He’s doing fine, everything seems to be fine — he’s in perfect health." She humorously added that he would be "grounded for life" and joked that he would never leave the house again after this ordeal. Will's decision to stay in one spot while waiting for rescue likely contributed to his survival in the challenging terrain.S1S2