Autistic boy found safe and well in Australia's Victoria
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (346283)
Rockingham, Australia
June 10, 2020 2:26am CST
A good news story hit our headlines today regarding the rescue of 14-year-old William Callaghan. William has autism and doesn’t speak. He became lost on Mount Disappointment near Melbourne in Victoria, Australia, and spent two nights in freezing temperatures. Emergency crews and volunteers had spent three days searching thick bushland in difficult terrain after the boy went missing on Monday afternoon.
Locals had been asked to help draw Will out by playing Thomas the Tank Engine music from their homes. They were also asked to leave out food and water in case he approached their houses. The article also stated that the smell of cooked bacon and onion might also attract the boy and help him find his way to safety. He was wearing track pants and a hoodie and had removed his shoes.
Will was taken to hospital as a precaution but didn’t seem to have come to any harm from his ordeal.
The photo is of some of the bushland near our property.
23 people like this
24 responses
@moffittjc (122668)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Jun 20
So glad to hear he was found safe and sound! It's too bad he doesn't speak, because I'd be curious to know how he survived two nights of freezing temperatures, especially without his shoes on.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (122668)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jun 20
@JudyEv Can he write, or communicate with drawings or in some other way? It really would be nice if they could find out more about his ordeal!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346283)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jun 20
@moffittjc They say he's non-verbal but he asked for McDonald's so he must communicate in some way. Early in the piece, he pressed his stomach which his Mum said meant he felt strange. Apparently he ate four packets of chips and some chicken nuggets. He was taken to hospital as a precaution and it was reported he had an insect in his ear, and a possible broken foot, which I mentioned earlier.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
10 Jun 20
it is amazing what people will do to help others. Thank you for sharing this!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346283)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jun 20
@DocAndersen Peaceful protests would be good. Our state looks like having a big one on Saturday. They've already had a positive covid case from the rally over east. Heaven knows how many he infected.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
11 Jun 20
@JudyEv it gives me hope when things like that happen. Or when violent protests turn peaceful. Those are the things i hope for!
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@JudyEv (346283)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jun 20
No, it seems he wasn't far from where he went missing but the bush is very dense in that area. A man who knows the mountain very well found him. Searchers tied paper to bushes to show where they'd been and he went just a bit deeper into the forest. He was singing as shouting would have sent the boy away. He also had some chocolate that he was able to give the boy.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346283)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jun 20
He was found 1.5 kms from the search headquarters which I guess were set up at the point he went missing.
Here are links to articles:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-10/how-boy-with-autism-william-callaghan-found-mount-disappointment/12341036?section=good-news
Doctors say William Callaghan is likely to be able to go home after a brief stint in hospital, despite spending two nights lost in freezing temperatures at Mount Disappointment, north of Melbourne.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
10 Jun 20
I am so glad he is okay. I had an autistic student last year, he was super sweet, we rally connected. However, around Thanksgiving he moved and his foster mom wanted me to follow him (It was only another 10 minute drive from where he was going) but the school he was going to told her that they prefer to hire their own. I really miss that boy and can't imagine him being lost, because he was also blind and had CP. 
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
11 Jun 20
@JudyEv Oh yes, I understand that completely.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (82499)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11 Jun 20
I am glad he was found safe and sound but then it brings me to a question. Since his family knows how things are with him where was everyone when he disappeared?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346283)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jun 20
He was on a bush walk with his family. The bush there is very thick and I guess he stepped off the trail for a minute or two and basically disappeared. He is non-verbal so wouldn't reply if they shouted and shouting would frighten him anyway. I guess the situation went from bad to worse very quickly.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247183)
• United States
10 Jun 20
Wow! So glad that poor boy was found safe.
I found one of my autistic students sitting in a beach chair on a busy road waving to passersby. The sad thing, no one stopped.
Thank goodness he knew me, and I called his mother immediately to pick him up.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346283)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jun 20
For sure, the bush there in incredibly dense and not easy to walk through except on the trails.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
10 Jun 20
That is good news, the parents or guardians should take extra precaution next time
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85285)
• Valdosta, Georgia
11 Jun 20
I'm glad he was found and is okay.
1 person likes this
@Dragonairy1 (1722)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
10 Jun 20
I'm glad he's safe that's an interesting name for a mountain.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (183887)
• United States
10 Jun 20
I'm so glad they were able to find Will and that he was in good shape.
1 person likes this
@Lakshman15 (2662)
• India
10 Jun 20
I am happy because finally that boy reach home safely.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346283)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jun 20
His parents were very worried for him. It's good he has been found.
