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William Callaghan, autistic teenager missing for two nights in Victoria, found alive William Callaghan, autistic teenager missing for two nights in Victoria, found alive
(32 minutes later)
14-year-old, who has non-verbal autism, found near summit of Mount Disappointment on third day of searching14-year-old, who has non-verbal autism, found near summit of Mount Disappointment on third day of searching
A teenager with non-verbal autism who was missing in the Victorian bush for two freezing nights has been found alive.A teenager with non-verbal autism who was missing in the Victorian bush for two freezing nights has been found alive.
Just under 48 hours after 14-year-old William Callaghan went missing while bushwalking with his family on Mount Disappointment, he was located near the mountain’s summit just before 1pm on Wednesday.Just under 48 hours after 14-year-old William Callaghan went missing while bushwalking with his family on Mount Disappointment, he was located near the mountain’s summit just before 1pm on Wednesday.
He was reportedly found by a local bushman, Ben Gibbs, who told reporters he grew up in the area and knew the mountains well.He was reportedly found by a local bushman, Ben Gibbs, who told reporters he grew up in the area and knew the mountains well.
William was given food and water and moved into an emergency services vehicle before being returned to camp where pracademics were waiting to treat him. “I was just wandering through the bush, it was quite thick so I was breaking my way through it,” he told Nine news.
“He was just about 15 metres from me just standing there, just really angelic, just standing there. I heard that he liked Thomas the Tank [Engine] so I just talked to him about Diesel and Bertie and stuff like that … just to calm him down.”
William was given food and water and moved into an emergency services vehicle before being returned to camp where paramedics treated him.
After an hour back at the camp he was moved into an ambulance.
Acting Inspector Christine Lalor said he was alert, eating, drinking, and had asked for McDonald’s on the way home.
A volunteer described the mood at the camp as “absolute jubilation”.A volunteer described the mood at the camp as “absolute jubilation”.
“We just saw Will. He looks in really good shape! He smiled at everyone as he was lifted out of the car,” she reportedly told News Corp.“We just saw Will. He looks in really good shape! He smiled at everyone as he was lifted out of the car,” she reportedly told News Corp.
The 14-year-old boy was walking to the summit of the hiking spot when he raced ahead of his family and became separated from them around 2.20pm Monday.The 14-year-old boy was walking to the summit of the hiking spot when he raced ahead of his family and became separated from them around 2.20pm Monday.
Having disappeared wearing only blue trackpants and a hoodie, there were concerns for his wellbeing as overnight temperatures dropped to near freezing.Having disappeared wearing only blue trackpants and a hoodie, there were concerns for his wellbeing as overnight temperatures dropped to near freezing.
“We’re optimistic at this stage that he will be safe and we’ll find him safe and well today,” Acting Inspector Christine Lalor said earlier on Wednesday. “We’re optimistic at this stage that he will be safe and we’ll find him safe and well today,” Lalor said earlier on Wednesday.
“William doesn’t verbalise so if anyone finds him, the best way to communicate with him is to be patient and calm.”“William doesn’t verbalise so if anyone finds him, the best way to communicate with him is to be patient and calm.”
She encouraged locals to play the Thomas the Tank Engine theme song and leave water and food such as Vegemite and feta cheese on their verandahs in the hopes William would seek them out.She encouraged locals to play the Thomas the Tank Engine theme song and leave water and food such as Vegemite and feta cheese on their verandahs in the hopes William would seek them out.
The teenager’s school teachers were also brought in to help, calling out his name in hopes he would approach a friendly, familiar voice.The teenager’s school teachers were also brought in to help, calling out his name in hopes he would approach a friendly, familiar voice.
“He has an intellectual disability and he’s very smart in his own way,” his mother, Penny Callaghan, said before he was found.“He has an intellectual disability and he’s very smart in his own way,” his mother, Penny Callaghan, said before he was found.
“I’m feeling positive because he’s quite resilient. He is very skinny. You know, he doesn’t have much padding on him, but he eats all the time, he’s always on the move. He’s very active, so he’s quite fit.“I’m feeling positive because he’s quite resilient. He is very skinny. You know, he doesn’t have much padding on him, but he eats all the time, he’s always on the move. He’s very active, so he’s quite fit.
“He’s not a great sleeper … As a mum, it’s tough when I’m trying to sleep and he isn’t. But having said that, I would lose so many hours sleep just to have him back with me. He’s such a beautiful person. He wouldn’t harm a fly. He’s very gentle.“He’s not a great sleeper … As a mum, it’s tough when I’m trying to sleep and he isn’t. But having said that, I would lose so many hours sleep just to have him back with me. He’s such a beautiful person. He wouldn’t harm a fly. He’s very gentle.
“I’m not really the praying type, but I’m praying now because I want him home.”“I’m not really the praying type, but I’m praying now because I want him home.”
Search and Rescue Squad Senior Sergeant Greg Paul said on Tuesday emergency crews were “fighting against time” to find the teenager. More than 500 volunteers, police and emergency services searched for William non-stop while temperatures dropped below zero.
More than 500 volunteers, police and emergency services were looking for William non-stop while temperatures dropped below zero.
The Victorian police minister, Lisa Neville, praised the emergency services efforts.The Victorian police minister, Lisa Neville, praised the emergency services efforts.
“Your efforts have been incredible and I speak for all Victorians when I say we are so grateful for your dedication and this amazing outcome,” she said in a tweet. “Your efforts have been incredible and I speak for all Victorians when I say we are so grateful for your dedication and this amazing outcome,” she said on Twitter.
William went missing without food and water and could have covered a lot of distance, police said.
“I think he’s gonna be pretty hungry and scared. Food is going to be a main driver for him at this point. He loves his food … he’s not gonna shy away from approaching someone for food. He won’t ask them. He can’t – he’s non-verbal, so he might just try and grab it,” his mother said.
Meanwhile, in New South Wales, a search for a second autistic teenager was called off after he arrived at his school on Wednesday morning, more than 200km away from where he went missing.Meanwhile, in New South Wales, a search for a second autistic teenager was called off after he arrived at his school on Wednesday morning, more than 200km away from where he went missing.
Darshan Sigel, 13, was travelling from Sydney to the NSW north coast with his mother when they stopped in a carpark in Heatherbrae near Port Stephens, for a rest.Darshan Sigel, 13, was travelling from Sydney to the NSW north coast with his mother when they stopped in a carpark in Heatherbrae near Port Stephens, for a rest.
The teenager walked off about 9.15pm and police were called when he failed to return.The teenager walked off about 9.15pm and police were called when he failed to return.
Local police and dog squads officers did an extensive search of the area, however, it appears that the boy received a lift from a driver back to the Blue Mountains near Sydney. The search was called off when the teenager arrived at his Katoomba school on Wednesday morning.Local police and dog squads officers did an extensive search of the area, however, it appears that the boy received a lift from a driver back to the Blue Mountains near Sydney. The search was called off when the teenager arrived at his Katoomba school on Wednesday morning.
“It seemed to have been born out of an argument with mum about wanting to stop at Heatherbrae in the first instance,” Superintendent Chad Gillies said. “It seemed to have been born out of an argument with mum about wanting to stop at Heatherbrae in the first instance,” Supt Chad Gillies said.
“From what I understand, Darshan was quite keen to get to school today, it was his first day back in a while with all the breaks around Covid … So, he was quite a determined and resourceful young boy and he’s made his way to school.”“From what I understand, Darshan was quite keen to get to school today, it was his first day back in a while with all the breaks around Covid … So, he was quite a determined and resourceful young boy and he’s made his way to school.”
Gillies said police were keen to speak to the driver they believe gave Sigel a lift to Sydney.Gillies said police were keen to speak to the driver they believe gave Sigel a lift to Sydney.
“Not that they’ve done anything wrong by any stretch of the imagination. But I think that it’s important for us to understand how he came to get there. And that may fill in a few more bits of the puzzle that can work with health and the family to hopefully prevent this occurring again.”“Not that they’ve done anything wrong by any stretch of the imagination. But I think that it’s important for us to understand how he came to get there. And that may fill in a few more bits of the puzzle that can work with health and the family to hopefully prevent this occurring again.”