⚡A 17-year-old boy who went missing for six days in Victorian bushland was found alive and rescued.

What it means

A 17-year-old boy named William, who went missing while camping in dense bushland in Victoria's east, was found alive after six days. A police helicopter crew spotted his tacklebox and winched him to safety, and he was reunited with his family. The rescue ended a large-scale search that had involved multiple agencies.

Accuracy & sourcesSourced

The claim is solid, based on official confirmation from Victoria Police. ABC News Australia is reporting directly from police statements, making this a primary-source-level report.

How new

Genuinely new — the rescue occurred and was reported on 12 November 2026, with coverage appearing within hours of the event.

Go deeper

• ABC News Australia (Top) — first to publish