Missing 17-year-old found alive after 6 days lost in Australian woodlands
A police helicopter crew found William, who has Level 2 autism, lying asleep on a flat rock beside a creek and he was later reunited with his mother.
A 17-year-old boy, identified only as William, was found alive after being lost in eastern Australian woodlands for six days. The teen went missing on a camping trip east of Melbourne last Friday, according to Victoria Police. William was dropped off by his mother for the weekend and wandered off to fetch more camping equipment.
When he failed to return, his friend began searching the area but found no trace of him. An extensive search by Victoria Police, including a police helicopter crew, finally located William on Thursday. The teenager was found asleep on a rock beside a creek, wearing casual clothing and using towels as blankets. He was in good spirits and mostly in good health, according to police.
After spending the last two days at the creek, trapped by steep terrain, William was airlifted to safety. His mother expressed gratitude for his survival, joking that he would never leave the house again. William has Level 2 autism, which requires substantial support and may include social communication deficits, social impairments, and restricted/repetitive behaviors.
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