I get that kids do foolish things, like travelling at night with 2 strangers.
But if he was seen at the new accommodation around 8am, and again walking briskly along the road some time “later”, how could he have needed to make a call at 8.30am saying he was lost, had no phone charge and needed water? He would have only just left the accommodation so definitely wouldn’t need water. And why not send your gps or what three words location then?