An Australian teenager who had been missing for more than six days in the dense forests of Victoria has been found and safely rescued. His family jokingly declared, “We won’t let him leave the house again.”Tags: [missing person, rescue, Australia, Victoria, teenager, survival]
On 12 Nov 2026 GMT+7, international news agencies reported that a 17-year-old Australian teenager named William (surname withheld) went missing last Friday (6 Nov) while camping with friends in a forested area about 180 kilometers east of Melbourne in the state of Victoria.Tags: [missing person, Australia, Victoria, camping, teenager]
Following the incident, authorities launched a large-scale search operation involving police dogs, divers, and helicopters. There was concern that the freezing nighttime temperatures could affect the teenager’s safety.Tags: [search operation, police dogs, divers, helicopter, cold weather, safety]
On Thursday morning, a search helicopter crew found William curled up on a rock beside a creek. Overjoyed to be found, he was assisted by officers who lifted him up using a winch into the helicopter. He was offered a donut and a bottle of water before being transported to a hospital for medical examination.Tags: [rescue, helicopter, medical care, survival, search team]
William has since reunited with his family. Elizabeth Barkley, the teenager’s mother, told reporters that her son had only minor scratches and appeared healthy. “He is fine; everything seems to be in order. He’s in good health... He just stayed put and waited for help. I’m so happy he’s alive that I feel like I’m floating.”Tags: [family reunion, health status, mother, relief, survival]
She also joked, “He won’t be allowed out of the house anymore.”Tags: [family, humor, safety]
Acting Inspector Jason Benbow from the Victoria Police stated that all officers were deeply moved to find the teenager alive because "this kind of thing doesn’t happen often." He added, “I’m sure he will have stories to tell us soon, and we look forward to hearing them eagerly.”Tags: [police statement, rescue, emotional response, anticipation]
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Source:Tags: [source]bbcTags: [media outlet]