A man’s body has been discovered in the same bushland near where police are searching for a 17-year-old boy in the state’s east.

Victoria Police confirmed a deceased male was discovered in Walhalla on Monday morning, less than 20kms from where a search is underway for Latrobe Valley boy, William.

While police have yet to formally identify the body, they believe it is missing 76-year-old man Geoffrey, who was last seen on Church Rd in Walhalla on Friday evening.

Police said a report was being prepared for the coroner, however the death was not being treated as suspicious.

It comes after police issued a further plea to a man and a woman who helped search for Will, alongside his friend, soon after he went missing near Stoney Creek Rd on Friday.

A Victoria Police spokesperson said local and specialist police units were continuing to search for Will.

Will, who has autism, had set up a campsite with a friend near the Thomson River, down from Stoney Creek Rd, when police believe he became disorientated and left the T2 track about 4pm.

Victoria Police conducted an extensive search for Will over the weekend.

They were especially concerned for his welfare given cold weather, the fact he was wearing shorts and had virtually no trace of his whereabouts.

Will’s mother Elizabeth Barkley said: “Now I’m worried, he’s been out there for two days.

“He’s probably cold, hungry … I just hope he’s curled up somewhere and gone to sleep,” An emotional Ms Barkley said: “He’s a really good kid, I’m just so worried because it’s very unlike him.

“I know when we find him he’s never going camping again … it’s just one of my worst nightmares; you’re son’s missing, you just don’t know where he is, whether he’s still alive or is he okay or whatever.

“So I’m just really, really worried … I just want him back home.”

Her son had no camping experience and was unfamiliar with the terrain.

“I just don’t know what’s happened. He’s missed the turn off, kept walking straight on the T2 track,” she said.

After dropping Will off, it is understood the teen set up the campsite with his mate before heading back to the drop-off area to fetch the remaining camping gear, including an esky, pillows, a tackle box and a table.

“We found the esky, but just no sign of him … he’s just vanished,” Ms Barkley said.

“I’m just really worried because he only had shorts on because it was hot.”

“Police believe at this stage Will may have become disoriented and lost his way in the surrounding terrain,” he said.

“Police and family members are growing increasingly concerned for Will as he was wearing minimal clothes at the time – a pair of shorts and work boots – and due to the weekend inclement weather.”

The steep trail from the campsite to the drop off area is a 20 minute walk, with dense bushland either side.

Will’s friend, who was understandably shaken following his friend’s disappearance, told Ms Barkley when he went to help collect the camping gear, he didn’t pass Will heading back along the track.

“He called out, he couldn’t find (him), he yelled and yelled and there was no answer,” she said

Speaking through tears, Ms Barkley said the past 48 hours had been “horrible”, barely able to slept or eat.

“I try to get a few hours sleep but then I wake up and I can’t sleep knowing that I’m safe in bed, warm, with food and he’s out there somewhere … he’d be so scared,” she said.

“He’s a mum’s boy so he’d be missing me a lot.”

Acting Supt Melanie Hamshere said police were looking to speak with a man and woman who helped Will’s friend in the moments after Will went missing.

“Another vehicle had stopped and helped Will’s friend when he was looking for Will,” Supt Hamshere said.

“That vehicle was a white Ute (with a black canopy on it) and it had a male and female on-board: the male had a beard.”

“We’d be keen to hear from the male and female that assisted Will’s friend on Friday evening.”

Will did have a mobile phone but he had left it back at the campsite.

Supt Hamshere said Will was in good spirits prior to his going missing.

With poor weather conditions having hampered the area over the weekend, and the fact that Will had little clothing on him at the time, police have spared no expense in their search effort thus far.

“We are concerned for Will’ safety and that’s why we’re really focused on locating Will,” she said.

“The terrain out there is quite dense: it’s thick, dense bush, there’s tracks that are accessible but the bush itself is quite thick and treacherous.”

All up the search effort has included up to 70 personnel, including officers from the Public Order Response Team, Dog Squad, Mounted Branch, Search and Rescue Squad and State Emergency Services personnel will also join the search.

Police have set up a command post in Cowwarr on Sunday to co-ordinate the search which involves officers from Maffra, Sale, Rosedale, Morwell, Bairnsdale and bikes from the Gippsland motorcycle branch.

Anyone with information is urged to call triple-0, Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Sale police station on 5142 2200.