Autistic Teen William Found Alive After Six Days in Bush

Seventeen-year-old William was found alive by a police helicopter after six days lost in rugged bushland near Walhalla, about 180 kilometres east of Melbourne, after leaving a campsite to retrieve equipment. He became disoriented and fell down a steep embankment, and was spotted beside a creek after an extensive search involving police, volunteers and specialist teams. Without his phone, food or water, he rationed chicken-flavoured chips, drank creek water and sang John Denver songs to keep his spirits up. William, who is autistic, was reunited with his mother and taken to hospital with dehydration, sunburn and scratches; doctors monitored his condition and warned it could worsen without treatment. His family said he was in good spirits and delighted to be safe, though medical restrictions initially kept him from the McDonald’s meal he had requested.