Police search for missing teenager in Victoria after weekend snow

Police have resumed the search for a 17-year-old boy who has been missing for four days near the historic gold mining town of Walhalla in Victoria's east. William, whose surname has not been released, went missing on Friday, November 6, after getting lost while camping.

What Happened

William was camping with another teenager near Stoney Creek Road and T2 Track when he walked a short distance to pick up more items from where they were dropped off. Victoria Police Superintendent Melanie Hamshere said he took his T-shirt off due to warm weather on Friday afternoon because he expected a short walk. He went back to collect an esky, two pillows, a fishing tackle box, and a brown tabletop without taking his phone. His esky was later found a short way up the track. A cold snap brought a late dusting of snow to nearby mountain ranges over the weekend, with overnight temperatures dropping below zero degrees Celsius on Saturday and Sunday at Mount Baw Baw. On Sunday, William's mother Elizabeth Barclay said her son is an inexperienced camper with a poor sense of direction in an unfamiliar area.

Search and Appeals

About 70 people searched for the teenager on Sunday with support from a police helicopter, water police, and the dog squad. The search resumed on Monday morning with a staging area set up at Cowwarr Recreational Reserve. Authorities are trying to find a bearded man and a woman in an older white ute with a black canopy who helped William's friend on Friday night when the friend began looking for him.

Context

Victoria's alpine region can experience sudden and severe weather changes even during warmer months, making overnight drops below freezing dangerous for anyone without adequate clothing. Search and rescue operations in these rugged areas often combine ground teams, dogs, and aerial support to cover dense bushland quickly.