A 17-year-old boy has been found alive after going missing for six days while camping in dense bushland in Victoria’s east.

William, whose surname has not been publicly disclosed, disappeared on 6 November while camping with a friend near Walhalla East, about 180km east of Melbourne.

He had left his phone, food and water at the campsite, prompting a major search involving more than 100 people, police divers, sniffer dogs and helicopters.

Victoria Police said in a statement that “the 17-year-old was with a friend when he was last seen in the vicinity of Stoney Creek Road, between Cowwarr and Walhalla, near T2 Track on Friday 6 November about 4pm”.

William was dropped off by his mother “for the purposes of camping for the weekend when he walked a short distance to the drop-off location to retrieve further camping equipment”.

“When he failed to return shortly after, his friend searched the area but found no trace of Will.”

A police helicopter spotted his fishing tackle box about 2km north-east of Stoney Creek on Wednesday morning.

“Air Wing were conducting an aerial search of the Cowwarr area when they spotted a tacklebox in bushland around 2km east from Stoney Creek,” the police said.

Officers winched him to safety and reunited him with his mother. He was found fit and healthy with “only a few scratches”, his mother said. William was taken to a hospital for monitoring.

“Amazingly, William is in good spirits and for the most part, in good health,” the Victoria Police said in a statement.

His mother Elizabeth said she had never lost hope of finding him alive.

“He’s doing fine. Everything seems to be fine. He’s in perfect health,” she said. “He just stayed in one spot and waited to be rescued and I’m just over the moon he’s alive.”

“He’s never leaving the house again. He’s grounded for life.”

His mother added that she “knew in my heart he was still alive.”

“I could feel it. I knew he wasn’t gone. Thank God he’s such [a] fit person. You see these stories on TV and you don’t think it can happen to you, but when you do and you find them alive, it’s just … I can’t describe the words. I’m so happy, I can’t speak properly,” she said.

Police said they were yet to establish how he survived six days without food, water or adequate clothing.

Victoria Police acting inspector Jason Benbow said: “The helicopter found him lying down, waving his arms at them. We’re very happy to reunite Will with his mum.”

He added: “It doesn’t happen all the time. I’m sure he’s got a story to tell us soon, which we’re very keen to hear.”