Police say cold conditions were "life-threatening" overnight at Mount Disappointment, north of Melbourne, where a search continues for a missing boy with autism.
Key points:
- About 300 people, including local volunteers, are looking for William Callaghan who went missing on Mount Disappointment yesterday
- Victoria Police Acting Inspector Christine Lalor said if anyone saw Will they should approach him in a "calm manner"
- She said Will would likely tap his chest to communicate and was wearing blue track pants and a blue hooded windcheater
An air and ground search was launched yesterday for 14-year-old William Callaghan, known as Will, after he was separated from his family on the south side of the summit about 2:20pm yesterday.
Mount Disappointment is about 10 kilometres north of Whittlesea.
Senior Sergeant Greg Paul of the Search and Rescue Squad described overnight conditions in the area as "life-threatening".
"There's no sugar-coating it," he told reporters.
"It was a very cold night last night, life-threatening cold, no doubt about that, down to zero or close to zero."
Will was not dressed for cold weather and had no food or water with him.
Senior Sergeant Paul said thick vegetation in the state forest hampered search efforts overnight.
"It's difficult to search through the thick undergrowth here.
"It's difficult to see someone from the air."
But he said the thick bush would have provided some shelter and warmth from the near-freezing conditions if the boy had remained in the forest overnight.
Senior Sergeant Paul said it was possible the boy had wandered into someone's home but warned the closest farm was several kilometres away.
"From past experience we know it can take a long time to find somebody in this terrain.
"We are giving it our best shot — we are pulling out everything to find this young guy."
Victoria Police Acting Inspector Christine Lalor said the boy's parents were devastated he was missing.
"Everyone knows it was a very cold night last night so it's very worrying," she told ABC Radio Melbourne.
There are approximately 300 people searching for Will, who Acting Inspector Lalor said was "very energetic" and could cover a large distance.
Police yesterday appealed to locals to check bedrooms and outhouses for Will, who they said was "very food focused" and may let himself in to people's kitchens or put himself to bed if he found shelter.
Acting Inspector Lalor said if anyone saw Will they should approach him in a "calm manner."
"He will tap his chest to try to communicate," she said.
The boy is wearing blue track pants and a blue hooded windcheater.
"We can only hope he's found cover somewhere at least to stay warm," she said.
James Behan and three of his colleagues were on their way to work when they decided to take the day off and help search for Will.
The men all play for the local Whittlesea Football Club.
"There was a mate up here overnight helping out as well so we thought we would take the day off and do what we can," he said.
"Obviously it's cold but we were going to work and then changed our minds and came up here, it's the least we can do."
Senior Sergeant Paul welcomed others who wanted to help with the search but said they should join an existing search crew.
"We don't want to be inundated with people who will be getting lost themselves," he said.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZGh0dHA6Ly93d3cuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9uZXdzLzIwMjAtMDYtMDkvcG9saWNlLXNlYXJjaC1mb3ItYm95LW1pc3Npbmctb24tbW91bnQtZGlzYXBwb2ludG1lbnQvMTIzMzQ0NzLSASdodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTIzMzQ0NzI?oc=5
2020-06-09 02:04:00Z
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