Teen survives on chips and creek water during six days lost in remote wilderness

A Morwell teenager has survived six days on his own in remote Victorian wilderness, subsisting on little more than a packet of chips and water after falling down a cliff and becoming trapped.

Seventeen-year-old William, known as Will, was rescued following a major search operation. His relieved mother, Elizabeth Barkley, revealed he had escaped with just sunburn and a few scratches – but he could now face a lifetime grounding.

Barkley said Will remained in LaTrobe Regional Hospital and was in “good health and good spirits” despite spending almost a week stranded in the bush wearing just a pair of shorts and work boots. He is reportedly looking forward to his next McDonald’s meal – his favourite food.

Will had been camping in the Walhalla East area, north of Traralgon in Gippsland, when he went missing.

Barkley told this masthead her son, who became lost last Friday, grew scared that night. He lay down and slept before starting to walk the following day, miraculously avoiding serious injury.

“He didn’t see there was a bit of a gap in a cliff, and he slid down [it] and got stuck there; he couldn’t move because his legs were sore,” she said.

Will stayed put, using towels he had with him to keep warm at night and drinking water from a nearby stream until he was found.

He had last been seen near Stoney Creek Road, close to the T2 Track, about 4pm on Friday while camping with another teenager for the weekend.

Police said he had walked a short distance to another part of the campsite. When he didn’t return, his friend searched the surrounding area but was unable to find him.

More than 100 emergency services personnel – including the dog squad, water police, the SES and Bush Search and Rescue volunteers – joined the hunt for Will in the days following his disappearance.

Police said the air wing had been conducting an aerial search of the Cowwarr area on Thursday – a location that hadn’t yet been scoured, due to the steep terrain – when rescuers spotted a tackle box in bushland about two kilometres east of Stoney Creek.

Zooming in on the tackle box, they found Will lying nearby beside a creek and winched him out to safety.

Barkley was at the search operation’s HQ in Cowwarr, being briefed on the mission, when news came through William had been found.

Police Inspector Jason Benbow said the helicopter with William – happily munching on a donut and chugging water – landed five minutes later.

“It was amazing timing,” Benbow said. “The excitement and emotion from everyone was quite phenomenal.”

“I never gave up hope,” Barkley said. “I knew in my heart he was still alive, and I just prayed to God for a miracle, and a miracle happened. So as soon as that helicopter landed, and they got him off, I gave him the biggest hug.”

As they embraced, Barkley made it clear to Will that while she was overjoyed he was safe, his camping adventures might be on hold for quite some time.

“The first thing he said to me was, ‘I love you,’ and I said, ‘You’re never leaving my sight again,’” she recalled a few hours later. “He’s grounded for life.”

The moment Will was found on Thursday, as captured by the police air wing.Victoria PoliceWhile Barkley said it felt like she had won the lottery having her son back, Will’s survival against the odds didn’t entirely surprise her.

“When he was 18 months old, he had meningococcal, and he was critically ill,” she said.

“He was in intensive care in hospital for a night, but he managed to pull through. He had to learn to talk and walk again because he lost his hearing.”

Barkley clung tightly to this memory for the whole time Will was missing: “He beat the odds once, so I knew he’d do it again.”

Will in hospital on Thursday afternoon.Will’s time grounded is likely to come with some leeway. The Collingwood tragic loves to play football, frequently emulating his hero Jack Ginnivan with snap goals during training with Morwell East. Barkley watches every game he plays.

“He’s very fit. I think that’s what got him through,” she said. “His dream is to make it into the AFL.”

The mother and son reunion.Victoria Police Photo: Matt GoldingBe the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for our breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app.

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