Luke Shambrook's mother Rachel kisses her son. Credit:Joe Armao He was spotted sitting on the side of the hill by a police helicopter, not far from where his black beanie had been found in the area on Monday afternoon. Luke was carried out of the bush on a stretcher and wrapped in silver foil with a blue policeman's beanie on his head to be reunited with his smiling parents, Rachel and Tim. They kissed him as he held the hand of a police officer, before Rachel rested his head back on the stretcher.

Luke's parents then got into an ambulance with their son, who was treated at a local hospital before being transferred to the Royal Children's Hospital. Luke Shambrook holding the hand of a policeman was taken to be reunited with his parents. Credit:Joe Armao A hospital spokeswoman said Luke was in a stable condition but was being closely monitored by medical staff on Tuesday evening. Acting Assistant Commissioner Eastern Region Rick Nugent said Luke seemed to be well and described him as "one strong, courageous and determined young man". The moment Luke was found.

He said Luke had eaten part of a roll offered to him by his rescuers and was "one happy boy" after seeing his parents. "It really is a miracle, he's alive and well," he said. Luke Shambrook, far left, with his family. "We have some very happy volunteers, happy emergency services and it was really through their team work and co-operation and commitment that allowed us to find Luke." Acting Sergeant Brad Pascoe, who spotted Luke from the helicopter, said he saw a flash out of the corner of his eye from the chopper.

The point where Luke was found. Luke went missing from the campground near the lake below. Credit:Konrad Marshall "It wasn't much but it was enough to make me get the guys to turn the aircraft around," he said. "We were just absolutely over the moon. All of us in the crew are parents ourselves and we can only imagine what Luke's parents were going through." A searcher makes his way towards Luke. Bush Search and Rescue spokesman Frank Zgoznak said the search for Luke had been a remarkable effort from the community with volunteers streaming into the area to help find him over the Easter long weekend.

He said finding Luke's beanie on Monday had buoyed the spirits of searchers. "It was an uplifting experience to find the hat yesterday, I think, you know, that made the difference to persuade us to persist looking for him a little bit longer and it paid off today in a big way," he said. "It's just fantastic." Scott Patrick woke at 6am on Tuesday, took the day off work and drove to the search area from Broadford with his six-year-old son Nayte. His said his family had camped in the area for decades, and he had a four-wheel-drive with GPS and satellite phone.

Mr Patrick said he had friends with autistic children, but would want the same help if his son or daughter was missing. "This could be anyone's child," he said. "I don't know if we can do much, but we've gotta try." Earlier, police had described the hunt for Luke as a "life and death struggle" as the search entered its fifth day on Tuesday. Mr Nugent said he would "hate to think" how much longer Luke could have survived as the weather took a turn for the worse. "I must admit early when I was driving around and having a look out of the car and into the countryside ... it's challenging," he said.

"Everyone had hope, everyone stayed hopeful and everyone was committed that we're going to find Luke but the longer it went, the more challenging it is for us." Victoria Police confirmed that Luke had a "high pain threshold", and was described by his family as "resilient". They also said that he enjoyed hiding, so searchers were looking in any and all obscured spots. Mr Nugent confirmed that a helicopter had earlier flown over the area where Luke was eventually found but that cloud cover had hidden him. He said searchers were headed towards the area before he was sighted just before midday on Tuesday. "All too often we see tragedy and it's been a hell of an ordeal - four days - but to be able to give his parents the news that he's well and alive and he's been found ... is amazing," he said. The boy spent his fourth night in the wilderness on Monday, when the temperature dropped to 8.8 degrees.