The search for missing teenager William has entered its fifth day, with police making a renewed appeal for anyone with deer hunting cameras, trail cameras or game cameras in the Cowwarr area to urgently check their footage.
Investigators are particularly keen to hear from hunters, campers, landowners or anyone who may have a camera deployed in bushland around Cowwarr, Stoney Creek, the Lower Thomson River and surrounding tracks, after a hunting camera was located in the search area.
Police are urging camera owners to review any footage captured since Friday 6 November, and contact investigators if they locate anything that may assist the search, no matter how insignificant it may seem.
Significant resources from police and other agencies including Search and Rescue, Public Order Response Team, Dog Squad and Air Wing have been deployed to the area since William went missing last Friday.
The 17-year-old was with his stepbrother when he was last seen in the vicinity of Stoney Creek Road, between Cowwarr and Walhalla, near T2 Track about 4pm.
William, also known as Will, was dropped off by his mother for the purposes of camping for the weekend when he walked a short distance to the dropoff location to retrieve further camping equipment.
When he failed to return shortly after, his stepbrother searched the area but found no trace of Will.
Police believe at this stage he may have become disorientated and lost his way in the surrounding terrain.
Will was wearing minimal clothes at the time - a pair of shorts and work boots.
His mobile phone was left behind along with food and water.
Also still missing is a tacklebox, pillows and a fold out tabletop.
It is unknown whether Will made it back to the dropoff location and collected these items.
Police are also appealing for anyone that was travelling in the Cowwarr, Stoney Creek and Lower Thomson River areas on Friday who may have dashcam or any further information to contact the local Sale Police Station on (03) 5142 2200.
Images of William have been released in the hope someone recognises him, and it assists in the search.
Police have set up a command post in Cowwarr to coordinate the search, which involves local police resources from Maffra, Sale, Rosedale, Morwell, Bairnsdale and bikes from the Gippsland motorcycle branch.
Anyone who sights Will is urged to call Triple Zero (000) or with information on his whereabouts is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or the local Sale Police Station on (03) 5142 2200.
