Remarkable footage has emerged of the moment a teenager was found by a search helicopter after six days lost in the Australian wilderness.
asserted
teenager → emerge → wilderness
William, whose last name has not been released, was on his first ever camping trip with a friend at Walhalla East in eastern Victoria on Friday afternoon when he walked to another part of the site near Stoney Creek Road and T2 Track but failed to return.
The 17-year-old, who has level two autism requiring 'substantial' support, was wearing only a pair of shorts and work boots at the time.
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who → release → time
He had also left his phone at the campsite.
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He → leave → campsite
The new footage showed a sunburnt and shirtless William lying on a flat rock near a creek, where it appears he survived on fresh drinking water.
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he → show → water
Still wearing his boots, he was covering himself with a blanket as he lay on his side when the helicopter hovered over him.
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helicopter → wear → him
He does not react at first, clearly fatigued and appearing to not realise what he is seeing, until he then waves at the helicopter and fist pumps the air in joy as he realises he is saved.
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he → react → joy
At the camp six days ago, William's friend had run to get help after the teenager did not return and managed to wave down the driver of a white ute.
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teenager → run → ute
Police had held grave fears for the Latrobe Valley teen, who they said may have become disoriented and lost his way in the treacherous terrain.
uncertain
they → hold → terrain
The incredible moment an autistic teen, 17, lost in Victoria's bush for six days was found
The boy took a minute to realise what he was seeing before fist-pumping the air
The Police Air Wing was scouring this type of country when officers spotted a tackle box in bushland about 2km east of Stoney Creek
The Bureau of Meteorology reported temperatures as low as 3C during the six days he was missing.
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he → lose → days
Fortunately, William was found alive on Thursday morning and was pictured on a stretcher as emergency services attended to him.
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services → find → him
Victoria Police said: 'William is in good spirits and, for the most part, in good health.'
He was transported by helicopter to a search base at Cowwarr, roughly 30km north of Traralgon in Gippsland, according to the Herald Sun.
His mother, Elizabeth Barkley, said on Thursday that William appeared to be in perfect health.
'He's doing fine, everything seems to be fine, he's in perfect health,' she said.
uncertain
she → say → health
'He just stayed in one spot and waited to be rescued and I'm just over the moon he's alive.'
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he → stay → moon
She joked that he would never be allowed to leave the house again.
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he → joke → house
The boy didn't have his shirt when he walked off and was heavily sunburnt
He was winched onto the helicopter about midday on Thursday
A teenage boy who was missing for six days after going on his first ever camping trip with a friend has been found alive
His mother, Elizabeth Barkley, told reporters on Thursday that William was doing well and appeared to be in perfect health
'
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William → have → health
He's grounded for life,' she told the ABC.
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she → ground → ABC
'He's not going anywhere ever again.
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He → go → ?
Pictures showed the teenager being transported by the Police Air Wing sitting upright on a stretcher.
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teenager → show → stretcher
He was also seen embracing loved ones after arriving at the search base.
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He → see → base
The Air Wing was conducting an aerial search when officers spotted a tackle box in bushland about 2km east of Stoney Creek.
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officers → conduct → Creek
After zooming in on the tackle box, officers found William lying nearby in a creek.
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William → zoom → creek
Flight officers winched down and retrieved William before taking him back to the command post, where he was reunited with his mother.
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he → winch → mother
More than 100 people took part in the six-day search for the teenager, including officers from the Public Order Response Team, Dog Squad, Mounted Branch and Search and Rescue Squad, alongside State Emergency Service personnel.
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people → take → personnel
Police said William had fallen down a steep riverbed embankment two days earlier, where he had remained, sleeping and waiting to be found.
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he → say → embankment
Victoria Police said: 'William is in good spirits and, for the most part, in good health.'
He was transported by helicopter to a search base at Cowwarr, roughly 30km north of Traralgon in Gippsland, according to the Herald Sun
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uncertain
He → say → Sun
He woke up to the sound of the helicopter [and] gave them a thumbs up,' Acting Inspector Jason Benbow said.
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Benbow → wake → thumbs
Police said William was exhausted and unable to walk, having suffered cuts to his legs and severe sunburn across his upper body and face.
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William → say → body
'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.
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Benbow → talk → doughnut
He was reunited with his mother on Thursday morning after Ms Barkley happened to be at the police staging ground in Cowwarr.
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Barkley → reunite → Cowwarr
'I knew in my heart he was still alive, I could feel it.
uncertain
I → know → it
I knew he wasn't gone,' Ms Barkley said.
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Barkley → know → ?
She ran to the police helicopter with open arms, embracing her son before telling him: 'You scared the shit out of me.'
She later described the overwhelming emotion of the reunion, saying she had been shaking and her heart was racing when she finally saw him.
'
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she → run → him
The police helicopter found him.
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helicopter → find → him
I can't thank everyone [enough].
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I → thank → everyone
It's a miracle,' she said.
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she → say → ?
Acting Inspector Jason Benbow (left) said he was 'very happy to reunite Will with his mum' (right)
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he → say → mum
William disappeared while camping with a friend at Walhalla East (above) in eastern Victoria
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William → disappear → Victoria
To wrap my arms around him was just a miracle...
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wrap → wrap → him
my baby has come back to me,' she added.
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she → come → me
William greeted his mother with a wave and a cheerful 'Hi mum' as the pair were reunited, Ms Barkley said.
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Barkley → greet → wave
'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...
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it → see → you
…and 15 more, not listed.
The Aporia
