Joyful mum says teen found after six days missing in bush is 'grounded for life' - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

A police helicopter crew has found and winched a teenager to safety six days after he disappeared in bushland in Victoria's east.

The 17-year-old disappeared on Friday while on a camping trip with his friend.

The boy was reunited with his mother before being taken to hospital for monitoring.

A teenager who survived six nights in dense bushland in Victoria's east is recovering in hospital after a police helicopter found him sleeping in a dry riverbed.

Seventeen-year-old William, whose surname has not been released, disappeared on Friday while camping with a friend at Walhalla East, about 180 kilometres east of Melbourne.

His disappearance sparked an intense six-day search involving police divers, the dog squad and helicopters. 

William was found sleeping on a rock in a dry riverbed by a helicopter crew that spotted his fishing tackle box about 2 kilometres east of Stoney Creek this morning. 

He appeared shirtless and sunburned, with a pillow, lunch box and small table nearby.

William smiled, waved and then pumped his fist when he awoke to the sound of the police helicopter circling overhead.

His mother Elizabeth Barkley said it was "a miracle" he had been found.

"He's doing fine. Everything seems to be fine," Ms Barkley said.

"He just stayed in one spot and waited to be rescued and I'm just over the moon he's alive."

William's mother Elizabeth Barkley broke down in tears while discussing her son's disappearance. (ABC News)

William's mother fought back tears as she spoke to the media shortly after they had been reunited in Cowwarr.  

"He's not going anywhere ever again. I'm just over the moon."  

Police said William had spent days walking through extremely rugged and rocky terrain before he fell down a steep riverbed embankment two days ago. 

He spent the past two days sleeping and waiting to be found.  

"He woke up to the sound of the helicopter [and] gave them a thumbs up," Acting Inspector Jason Benbow said. 

"The search area today was something we couldn't do on foot, it was way too steep and beyond the capabilities of any human, to be honest." 

Police said William was exhausted and unable to walk, with cuts on his legs. He also had severe sunburn to his upper body and face.

"Other than that he's talking to us, he's happy, he's smiling, he's giving us an account of what's happening and he's hugging his mother and having a doughnut and water," Acting Inspector Benbow said.

William has been taken to Latrobe Regional Hospital with his mother for monitoring. 

William was last seen on Friday, November 6, about 4pm.  (Supplied: Victoria Police)

Hundreds of people joined the search for the 17-year-old over six days, with more than 80 volunteers scouring the bush each day. 

His mother never gave up on him being found, despite the fact he had little to no bush experience. 

Police found the teenager six days after he disappeared while camping near Cowwarr. (ABC News: Lily Kristanto)

"I knew in my heart he was still alive," Ms Barkley said. 

"I could feel it. I knew he wasn't gone. Thank God he's such [a] fit person." 

The pair was reunited this morning when Ms Barkley happened to be at the police staging ground in Cowwarr.  

She ran to the police helicopter with open arms, embracing her son before telling him: "You scared the shit out of me." 

Ms Barkley said she was shaking and her heart was pounding when the pair was reunited.  

"To wrap my arms around him was just a miracle ... my baby has come back to me." 

William went missing while on a camping trip at Walhalla East on Friday, November 6. (Supplied: Victoria Police)

"You see these stories on TV and you don't think it can happen to you, but when you do and you find them alive, it's just … I can't describe the words. I'm so happy, I can't speak properly."

William could be seen smiling and laughing with police while sitting with his legs outside the helicopter's side door. 

Authorities said it would not have been possible to find William without the police helicopter.

"I've been praying for this all week. To find him while I was out here, it was such a perfect … you couldn't write the script any better," his mother said. 

William could be seen smiling and scratching his head after his six-day ordeal came to an end.  (ABC News)

Speaking on the boundary line of the Cowwarr Recreation Reserve, Ms Barkley revealed her son had dreams of becoming a famous AFL footballer.

"[He wanted] to be famous that way, not famous like this," she said smiling. 

William was located alive and assessed by paramedics. (ABC News: Lily Kristanto)

Ms Barkley thanked the volunteers who spent countless hours searching for her son. 

SES Incident controller Tohi Kuru was with police and Ms Barkley when news broke William had been found. 

"There was just this air that came in, no-one was saying anything … we knew something was coming," he said.

"A few minutes later we had confirmation [he had been found] … it was an awe-inspiring moment to watch that mother reunite with William."

Victoria Police Acting Inspector Jason Benbow said it was an amazing feeling when William was found. 

He said William "had no idea police were even looking for him". 

"In my opinion, I think he could have survived more days; he was very fit and healthy," he said. 

Acting Inspector Jason Benbow says finding William after six days of searching is one of the highlights of his career. (ABC News: Lily Kristanto)

"It's just amazing how he's survived this long, through cold nights, hot days.

"There's a few emotional police in there … this is the best thing about the job; to have this sort of result at the end. 

Victoria Police could be see celebrating William's safe return today. (ABC News: Lily Kristanto)