Emergency crews and volunteers will head into thicker bushland today as the search continues for a teenager who went missing on Mount Disappointment two days ago.
Key points:
- About 500 people will head into more dense bushland further from the command post on Wednesday to try to find missing 14-year-old William Callaghan
- Police say anyone who sees the boy should approach him with minimal noise, make sure he is warm and avoid too much physical contact
- Victoria Police Sergeant Julie-Anne Newman say police will further restrict access to the area today to avoid overcrowding the one road in and out of the search zone
An air and ground search was launched for William Callaghan, known as Will, who was separated from his parents on the south side of the summit about 2:20pm on Monday.
The 14-year-old has autism, is non-verbal, is not dressed for cold weather and has no food or water with him.
Overnight, searchers used thermal-imaging equipment and played music including the Thomas the Tank Engine theme in the hope of drawing the boy out of the bush.
Up to 500 people have joined the search and will today head into more difficult terrain within the state forest, which is about 10 kilometres north of Whittlesea.
Senior Sergeant Greg Paul of the Search and Rescue Squad said crews had been searching for Will around the clock.
"We've had people search by foot, by 4WD, using a few different techniques, and unfortunately no success overnight but we're continuing on, and we're expecting a lot more searchers today, and we're really revving things up again for hopefully a successful day," he said.
Senior Sergeant Paul said crews would head into gullies and "difficult country" this morning, further afield from where the search had been concentrated so far.
Victoria Police Sergeant Julie-Anne Newman said the search for Will was a "race against time".
She said assistance from locals and other members of the public had been overwhelming, but there would be some restrictions in place today.
"There's pretty much only one single road in and out of that area and we probably won't be letting as many volunteer cars up as high as what we did yesterday," she told ABC Radio Melbourne.
"That's purely just to allow the movement of emergency service vehicles so they can move in and out more freely."
Sergeant Newman said there had been some visibility issues in the overnight search.
Yesterday, Victoria Police Acting Inspector Christine Lalor urged people nearby to check their properties thoroughly in case Will had found shelter or sought food.
"If people anywhere in the area could please check their houses, bedrooms and outhouses to ensure that William's not bunkered down there that would be much appreciated," she said.
Acting Inspector Lalor said if anyone saw Will they should approach him in a "calm manner" with minimal noise, make sure he was warm and avoid too much physical contact.
"He will tap his chest to try to communicate," she said.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA2LTEwL3dpbGxpYW0tY2FsbGFnaGFuLXNlYXJjaC1mb3ItYm95LXdpdGgtYXV0aXNtLW10LWRpc2FwcG9pbnRtZW50LzEyMzM4Mjg20gEnaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEyMzM4Mjg2?oc=5
2020-06-09 23:43:33Z
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