A 17-year-old boy who spent six days lost in the Australian bush has been reunited with his family after being spotted by a police helicopter lying on a rock beside a creek.

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

William, who lives with autism, disappeared on November 6 after taking a wrong turn while walking near a campsite in Walhalla East, Victoria.

The teenager had never been camping before and was without his phone when he wandered away from the site, where he had been staying with another teenager.

For six days, he survived by drinking water from a creek, eating a family-sized bag of chicken-flavoured potato chips and using towels and a pillow to keep himself warm.

Meanwhile, police, emergency crews and volunteers were desperately searching the surrounding bushland, hoping to find him alive.

Their efforts finally paid off on Thursday when Victoria Police’s Air Wing spotted a tackle box in a remote area around two kilometres from where William had last been seen.

The helicopter crew then discovered the missing teenager curled up on a rock beside Stony Creek.

Footage released by police captured the emotional moment William realised help had finally arrived.

Sunburnt and shirtless after enduring the warm weather, he looked up towards the helicopter, placed a hand over his heart and pumped his fist in celebration, 9News reports.

He then gathered his pillow and Melbourne Vixens lunch box before being winched to safety.

Acting Inspector Jason Benbow said the teenager was delighted when he realised he was being rescued.

“The police Air Wing say his eyes lit up. He was very excited about getting into a helicopter, he’d never been on one before,” Benbow told reporters. “He didn’t even think people were searching for him, he had no idea how he was going to get out of there. And honestly, I think he could have survived a couple more days.”

Despite spending almost a week alone in rugged bushland, William was found in good spirits, having suffered scratches, sore legs and weight loss.

His mother, Elizabeth Barkley, revealed that he had fallen down a cliff during the ordeal but had managed to remain in one place while waiting for help.

“He drank water from the creek … had Smith’s potato chips, a family-size pack, that went in two days,” she told 9News. “He fell down a cliff, he had a lot of scratches and sore legs. He had a couple of towels to cover himself up.

“He stayed in one spot, waiting to be rescued. When he heard the helicopter he got up on his knees and waved and screamed.”

The area where William was discovered had not previously been searched, with police explaining that the terrain was too difficult to access on foot.

The rescue brought an emotional end to a six-day operation involving specialist police teams, search dogs, mounted officers, divers and volunteers.

For Elizabeth, who had remained hopeful throughout the search, the news that her son was alive was overwhelming.

“I just lost it. It’s been horrible the past couple of days, my prayers have been answered,” she said. “I’m just over the moon, a miracle, I was praying and praying, and a miracle happened, he’s alive.”

She was able to meet William as he returned aboard the police helicopter.

When he spotted his mother approaching, the teenager exclaimed: “Oh, Mum, hey”.

Her response combined enormous relief with a very understandable warning.

“Come here,” she told him. “Don’t ever do that again. You’re never leaving my sight again. You scared the shit out of me. Yes, you’re grounded.”

Elizabeth later shared a message from William, explaining that he had experienced fear, loneliness, hunger and thirst while waiting to be found.

“He said he was feeling cold, scared, alone, hungry and thirsty,” she said. “He hopes this never happens again. And he is eager to go back to playing footy.”

William was taken to hospital for monitoring following his rescue.

Although he was already looking forward to a large McDonald’s meal, his mother explained that he would need to ease back into eating after going several days with very little food.

For now, Elizabeth is simply grateful to have her son home.

“I know he wanted to be a famous AFL player, not famous like this, but I don’t care. He’s mine now, and he’s staying home, and I’m never going to let him go again,” the mother said. “He’s just relieved, he was so scared.“

Amazing news! Well done to all involved in William’s rescue.

Featured image credit: Instagram/Victoria Police (screenshot)