Police divers to search rivers as hunt for missing boy enters fifth day

Police divers will today join the search for 17-year-old William, who went missing during a camping trip near Walhalla East in Victoria's Gippsland region. The teenager vanished after embarking on the trip with his step-brother on Friday, November 6. William was last seen near Stoney Creek Road, close to Cowwarr, after walking away from their drop-off point to gather additional camping gear. His step-brother searched the dense bush but found no trace of him.

Police Acting Inspector Jason Benbow revealed that the search crews have already covered a vast area of bushland. Today, they will broaden the search perimeter to include nearby rivers and utilize underwater divers. The operation, which involves around 40 to 50 people on foot and police personnel, remains ongoing with expanded resources compared to the previous day. Inspector Benbow emphasized that police are not planning to scale back the search effort.

William was last seen near a makeshift campsite beside the river, where stairs led down to the water. The last indication of his presence included a pair of shorts, work boots, and a left-behind mobile phone, food, water, fishing tackle box, pillows, and a fold-out tabletop. Inspector Benbow mentioned the possibility of William continuing his walk, seeking shelter, or sustaining an injury.

He expressed hope that the 17-year-old would be found on this fifth day of the search, focusing on an area approximately 6 kilometers north-west of Cowwarr Weir, closer to the town of Cowwarr.