'He was waiting to be rescued': Will Callaghan ate Maccas chips, slept well after ordeal - The Age

She said Will had slept most of the night after eating four large serves of McDonald's chips and some chicken nuggets, which was one of his first requests after being found.

Ms Callaghan said she couldn't wait to meet Ben Gibbs, the experienced bushman and volunteer from Research in Melbourne's north-east, who found her son after the frantic two-day search.

"I am looking forward to that moment. Definitely I would love to give him a hug and I'm incredibly thankful. It was great to hear his family connection to the mountain," she said.

Ben Gibbs, who found Will in the bush.Credit:Justin McManus

"If [the mountain] was to be renamed I would like it to be renamed after him."

She said Will was still a bit confused on Thursday morning, but had been watching his favourite show Thomas the Tank Engine which had helped calm him down.

Doctors say Will is in a good condition and he is expected to return home later on Thursday.

"This is a massive ordeal for him, but for him it was probably just an adventure as well and he is just happy I'm there and he slept very well last night, a lot better than I did," Ms Callaghan said.

Will Callaghan, in his stepfather's arms, after being found. His mother Penny follows close behind.Credit:Justin McManus

"He has demonstrated what an amazing person he is. What probably surprised me about him is he stayed in the area – he was off the track but didn't go too far. He was waiting to be rescued and I want to give him a million hugs but he won't like that ... [I was able to] steal a kiss or two."

One of the biggest search efforts in Victoria's history, which included almost 500 searchers on foot, horseback and motorbikes, ended in elation when Will's mother was reunited with her son shortly after 1pm on Wednesday.

SES volunteers searching for Will on Tuesday.Credit:Chis Hopkins

Ms Callaghan said she had been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the community, especially the autism support workers who had rallied together to help with the search.

"These supporters have been with the family since Will was two, he had a diagnosis around that age and it was mind-boggling, overwhelming and it's been a massive journey," she said.

"What do I do now, tether him to me so this doesn't happen again? It's terrifying and it may happen again, I'll do the best I can to not make that happen.

William Callaghan with his mother shortly after being found.Credit:AAP

"In so far as how a parent can cope with that, it is tricky, but you're switched on all the time, on alert all the time and that's where it gets tiring and you need good support."

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She said the NDIS provides some funding, but it was also important to make people aware of what autism is and how best to support those living it.

Peter Campbell, a field organiser from Bush Search and Rescue, said the discovery of Will's discarded shoes about midday on Wednesday was key to finding him.

"There was some concern growing," he told ABC radio on Thursday morning.

"[Then] we actually found some shoes, one of the search teams found his shoes, so that narrowed it down.

"We had a number of teams in the area where he was found … but we were lucky one of the community volunteers spotted him."

Acting Inspector Christine Lalor said it was "hard to know" if Will would have survived another night in the bush.

"You can't put a time on it ... we were remaining optimistic," she told Melbourne radio station 3AW.

"To have found him so well was quite extraordinary."

Police and SES searching for Will in the forest surrounding Mt Disappointment on Tuesday.Credit:Chris Hopkins

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The officer of 30 years added: "Giving that news to Penny [Will's mother] and the family was the best ever … it was as a highlight of my career."

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZ2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZWFnZS5jb20uYXUvbmF0aW9uYWwvdmljdG9yaWEvc2hvZS1jbHVlLWhlbHBlZC1sZWFkLXRvLXdpbGwtcy1yZXNjdWUtMjAyMDA2MTEtcDU1MWhsLmh0bWzSAWdodHRwczovL2FtcC50aGVhZ2UuY29tLmF1L25hdGlvbmFsL3ZpY3RvcmlhL3Nob2UtY2x1ZS1oZWxwZWQtbGVhZC10by13aWxsLXMtcmVzY3VlLTIwMjAwNjExLXA1NTFobC5odG1s?oc=5

2020-06-11 00:10:23Z
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