Wire reporting: (AP, via WGN)

A 17-year-old identified by police as William was found alive in eastern Victoria bushland on Thursday, local Friday, after six days missing from a camping trip near Walhalla, about 180 kilometers (112 miles) east of Melbourne^3,4,5.

Victoria Police said a helicopter crew located him beside a creek, winched him out and later reunited him with his mother before he was taken to hospital for a checkup^3,10.

Police said he had gone camping with another teenager last Friday and walked away from the campsite to collect gear, then did not return^4,5.

Times of India, citing ABC News, said it was described as his first independent camping trip with a teenage friend and that he left without a phone, food or water⁴.

Stuff, carrying Sydney Morning Herald reporting, said air officers zoomed in on a tackle box, found him in the creek and that he had survived on water and a packet of chips after a fall that left him unable to climb out¹⁰.

His mother, named Elizabeth Barkley by the BBC and Stuff, said he had only minor injuries and seemed healthy; U.S. AP copy carried by The Philadelphia Inquirer used a first name only^3,9,10.

Barkley told Stuff she was waiting at the search command when told he had been found, then hugged him after the helicopter landed¹⁰.

The BBC said the search involved police dogs, divers and helicopters³.

The BBC said overnight cold had raised concern during the search³.

Police said he was in good spirits and mostly in good health; a fuller account of how he spent the six days had not been released¹⁰.