Luke Shambrook, 11, found after four-day search at Lake Eildon

LATEST: IT’S the moment rescuers were hoping for in the desperate search for Luke Shambrook. Acting Sergeant Brad Pascoe has described how the police airwing spotted the 11-year-old, alone in thick bushland, after he was lost for more than four days. Footage from the helicopter shows rescuers scrambling down the embankment to help the dehydrated, cold child. SEE THE INCREDIBLE VIDEO

THIS is the dramatic moment Luke Shambrook is rescued by the Victoria Police chopper crew in rugged and wet bushland following a four day search.

As the chopper zooms in on the terrified little boy, he looks up blankly towards the sky.

The 11-year-old was spotted by Acting Sergeant Brad Pascoe from the Police Air Wing, who asked for the chopper to go back for a better look.

“Out of the corner of my eye I just caught a little flash of something. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to make me get the guys to turn the aircraft around and go back,” he said.

“When we got closer and were able to have a better look at him we saw it was a person on the ground. We were able to train the camera in and see that it was Luke.

“We were absolutely over the moon.”

“All of us in the crew are parents ourselves and we can only imagine what the parents of Luke have been going through and it’s such a reward for everyone’s efforts.”

Luke, who has severe autism, was spotted by police Air Wing just before midday near Skyline Rd, 3km southwest of the campground where he vanished on Friday morning.

Rescuers had to chainsaw a path through the thick scrub so Luke, exhausted, cold and dehydrated, could be stretchered out.

Luke was assessed by paramedics at the scene and has arrived at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Eastern Region Rick Nugent said Luke has been found walking along the ridgeline, suffering from hypothermia.

“In some way it’s a miracle. You will have all seen the terrain here, how thick it is, how cold it’s been in the night. We’ve had rain, most of this morning.

The moment Luke is approached by his rescuer. Picture: Police Media

Found! Luke Shambrook is placed into an ambulance. Picture: Mike Keating

Luke is placed into the ambulance as mum looks on. Picture: Mike Keating

Luke’s emotional parents watch as he’s taken to the ambulance. Picture: Mike Keating

Found! Luke is brought out of the bush to a waiting ambulance. Picture : Mike Keating

“To spot him now is an absolute relief and the joy felt by all of us that he has been found it just hard to describe,” Mr Nugent said.

He described Luke as a “courageous, resilient, strong young man”.

“Eleven years of age after four days and we’ve all seen the terrain he was lost in, that is just amazing,” he said.

His relieved mother and father embraced him as he was brought out of the bush.

“His family, his parents are overwhelmed by the news. They asked if I could pass on their appreciation to all searchers, to volunteers, to police, to emergency services, parks victoria, SES and everyone else that assisted in the search,” Mr Nugent said.

“They describe their feeling as absolute relief that he’s been located well after being lost in the bush for approximately four days.”

Cheryl Wilson, a pastor at Katalyst Church who knows friends of the family, travelled from Pakenham to join the search with 21-year-old daughter Sheridan.

Like others, she felt compelled to do what she could to find the missing 11-year-old.

“I think everybody just had that same thought that Luke was going to be found alive. Everybody had that same spirit of determination and belief. Everybody you spoke to in every volunteer or professional capacity all felt the same thing and never gave up hoping and believing. I’m just praising the efforts of the police, the SES – everybody involved. They are such wonderful people,” she said.

“As a Christian community praying, for us you never give up hoping. You know that nothing is impossible for God. People have been praying worldwide. I definitely believe in the power of prayer.

“There are probably a lot of people tired, but the relief and the joy I would imagine for so many people surpasses any tiredness that anyone would feel I’m sure. I don’t think anyone’s going to forget Easter 2015.”

Luke’s discovery followed a massive effort from emergency service workers and concerned members of the public - many who drove from Melbourne to volunteer.

Luckily the weather was mild during the disappearance.

SES chief executive officer Stephen Griffin, whose organisation provided 120 members from 12 units statewide said: “Our volunteers’ dedication and commitment to the community this weekend has been exemplary.

“Each of our volunteers are highly trained specialists, who admirably gave up their Easter weekends with friends and family to serve the Victorian community.

“We’re so happy that Luke has been reunited with his family, and I know that for our volunteers, it is moments like this that inspire them to give their time so willingly.”

About 40 CFA volunteers and staff played a key role at night, using handheld thermal imaging cameras in an effort to find Luke.

Crews hailed from the Alexandra, Benalla, Rowville, Eildon, Euroa, Mansfield, Seymour, Shepparton and Wallan brigades.

“It was an amazing effort for all of the people concerned,’’ CFA district operations manager Rob Van Dorsser said.

“To see the amount of people that were there and how it was co-ordinated was absolutely amazing.

“We were just elated to be able to find him alive was fantastic news.

“It’s always difficult with children and to actually get the result today was fantastic.”

There were 55 highly skilled volunteers from the specialist Bush Search and Rescue Victoria.

Luke disappeared from Devil Cove campground about 9.30am on Friday and his beanie was found on Auciferous Spur Track, about 1km west, yesterday afternoon.

Luke’s uncle thanked emergency service workers and volunteers on behalf of the boy’s parents, grandparents and other relatives who have been holding out hope at the Candlebark camp ground.

“We want to thank everybody who’s been involved in helping to find Luke. We’ve been overwhelmed by the response and we’re very thankful that we live in a society that puts in a lot of effort into finding children who go missing. We’re very happy that Luke has been found alive and well even after such a long time. We are just rejoicing.”

Asked if the family could believe the good news, he said: “We can believe it. We are just rejoicing.”

But Mr Nugent said it may never been known how far Luke actually walked.

“Its hard to say and we will probably never know how many kilometres he did walk over the four days to get to there. He may well have been walking in different directions at different times,” he said.

The operations centre at Fraser National Park erupted with cheers as the good news flowed in.

A group of female volunteers hugged and cried, while two female mounted officers wiped tears from their eyes.

A family photograph shows Luke (left) with his parents and siblings, Lauren, 7, and Luke, 11.

Mr Nugent thanked everyone who had volunteered to help find Luke since he was reported missing on Friday.

“I have been amazed by the volunteers. The volunteers across Victoria that have come together, that have rallied, their efforts and their commitment are fantastic and we are so indebted to them for their assistance,” he said.

Peter Donnelly, a Parks Victoria caretaker who originally reported Luke missing said he was “over the moon” when he heard the news.

“I’m absolutely rapt,” he said.

Eildon locals Rhonda Best and Mark Stevens described the feeling as “better than winning the lottery.”

“We’ve never heard the bush scream, ‘he’s found’ so loud. The echoes that makes,” Mr Stevens said.

“Everyone came out of the bush honking their cars and roaring. I’ve never seen so many happy people.”

Ms Best said Candlebark campground, where Luke’s family was staying, “erupted”.