Australian teenager William rescued alive after six days missing in the bush
A 17-year-old teenager, William, has been found alive after being missing for six days in dense bushland in the Australian state of Victoria. His surname has not been released.
William disappeared last Friday while on a camping trip with a friend. The area is bushland about 180km (112 miles) east of Melbourne.
Extremely cold overnight temperatures had left authorities concerned for his welfare. Police dogs, divers and helicopters had been involved in the search.
He was located on Friday morning and winched to safety. Rescuers fed him a doughnut and a bottle of water, before he was taken to hospital for a check-up.
His mother, Elizabeth Barkley, told reporters the teenager had only a few scratches and seemed fit and healthy. She said: 'He's doing fine, everything seems to be fine, he's in perfect health.'
Barkley said William had stayed in one spot and waited to be rescued, and that she was over the moon he was alive.
Joking, she added that he was 'grounded for life' and 'never leaving the house again'.
Victoria Police Acting Inspector Jason Benbow said officers were emotional to have found the teenager alive. 'It doesn't happen all the time,' he said, adding that they were keen to hear William's story.
