Police believed the teenager lost his way and began wandering the area trying to find his way back. According to details released after his rescue, he made his way through mountainous and steep terrain, and during his attempts to return he slipped and fell down a slope. He reached a creek area, where he became trapped due to the steep and difficult terrain surrounding it, and for the last two days before he was located he remained in that spot.
According to reports in Australia, during his ordeal he managed to survive on a single bag of snacks and drinking water from the creek. Meanwhile, nighttime temperatures in the area dropped to around three to four degrees Celsius, and fears for his life grew.
The search operation for him became a large-scale effort, involving more than one hundred rescue personnel and volunteers. Police deployed helicopters, dog units, divers and search-and-rescue teams, who scoured the rugged terrain, the creeks and the slopes in the area. Police even appealed to hunters and owners of trail cameras in the area to check whether they had recorded anything that could help locate him.
On Thursday morning, after six days of searching, the long-awaited moment arrived. A police helicopter crew first spotted the boy's fishing tackle box, which was found in the area about two kilometres from the campsite. Following the discovery, the crew continued to scan the surroundings, and then spotted him lying on a flat rock in a dry creek bed.
In dramatic footage filmed from the helicopter, the teenager can be seen lying on the rock, covered with a towel, shirtless and his body reddened from sunburn. When he woke to the sound of the helicopter and noticed the rescuers, he signalled to them with a thumbs-up that he had seen them. One of the crew members was lowered to him by cable, and the boy was airlifted from the area by helicopter.
Acting Police Inspector Jason Benbow said the teenager was found exhausted and struggling to walk, but in good spirits. After being transferred to the search forces' assembly point, he was given water and a doughnut, and was later evacuated to the regional hospital for further examination and observation.
The most emotional moment occurred when William was reunited with his mother Elizabeth, who had waited long days for news of her son. She said she had prayed constantly and hoped he was still alive.
"I'm just over the moon that he's alive," the mother said emotionally. She added that her son appeared fairly healthy and was suffering only from a few scratches. According to her, he simply stayed in one place and waited for them to come and rescue him.
"He's not leaving the house anymore. He's grounded for life. He's not going anywhere," he said.
