Tragedy as autistic boy, 14, is found dead after going missing while jogging in bushland - and his older brother was told he couldn't join the search because he would be breaking COVID-19 restrictions
- William Wall, 14, went missing at 6.45am on Tuesday after going for a run
- He was last seen heading out for jog along the Yarra Ranges' Warburton Trail
- Desperate search was launched for the teen but volunteers told to stay home
- Police said the autistic teen was found dead in Yarra Junction on Wednesday
Autistic teenager William Wall has been found dead, 32 hours after he went missing in dense bushland outside Melbourne.
The 14-year-old went out for his daily jog along the Yarra Ranges' Warburton Trail at 6.45am on Tuesday, promising his family he would be back in 15 minutes.
But he never returned to his home in Launching Place.
Victoria Police confirmed his body had been found in Yarra Junction during the second day of the search on Wednesday afternoon.
William's disappearance sparked an air and ground search involving about 100 personnel from Victoria Police and the State Emergency Service.
But police were still keen to enforce Melbourne's stage four coronavirus restrictions, which includes staying within a five kilometre radius from home.
William's older brothers, who spent Tuesday night with rescuers looking for him were stopped from continuing the search the next day.
'We've been told by all the police, saying we're not allowed to help because we're beyond the five kilometre radius, which is going to out more of a delay in finding him,' his older brother Harrison told Seven News.
William Wall (Pictured), 14, was found dead at Yarra Junction, Melbourne on Wednesday, 32 hours after going missing on his daily jog on Tuesday
William's distraught father Shane (pictured) struggled to fight back tears as he thanked volunteers, police, the SES and family members who had been searching all night
William's older brother Harrison Wall (pictured) was stopped by police from continuing the search due to Melbourne's strict stage four lockdown restrictions
It's understood William's body was found in bushland at the end of a residential street less than two kilometres from his home.
His death is not being treated as suspicious and police will prepare a report for the Coroner.
William's family have gathered at the blocked off street where his body was found.
Distraught rescuers and locals were also seen consoling each other at the scene.
Friends console each other at the scene after police confirmed William's body had been found
Distraught rescuers console each other after William Wall's body was found on Wednesday
The search entered its second day on Wednesday after rescue crews spent overnight searching the area after temperatures plummeted to 7C.
Locals fumed after being advised to keep an eye out for William, but not to breach Melbourne's stage four COVID-19 restrictions by limiting outdoor time to two hours.
'In line with coronavirus restrictions, at this stage we do not require any assistance from the public,' a post on the Eyewatch Yarra Ranges Police Facebook read.
'We want to say a big thank you however, for the all the offers we have received.'
Police later clarified their position on Wednesday.
'This is not to do with COVID,' local police commander Inspector Jason Goddard said.
'We don't want to bring this into a COVID conversation. What we are doing is focusing our search on Will.
'If the resourcing we have on the ground here and deployed today is not adequate we will ask for more resources.'
Bush Search and Rescue Victoria volunteers are pictured outside Warburton Police station ahead of the search, hours before William was found dead
SES personnel depart the Warburton Police state ahead of the search for missing autistic boy William Wall, who was later found dead
William's distraught father Shane struggled to fight back tears as he thanked volunteers, police, the SES and family members who had been searching all night.
'I just want everyone to be safe,' he told reporters on Wednesday afternoon, hours before police confirmed his son had been found dead.
'I never want to be in this situation but the people around here are fantastic. I mean, I've been in the valley for a long time and come from overseas but this has just blown me away.'
'Actual support from local people, the Facebook community and the noticeboards and that, fantastic. Top notch and the police and SES, again, it has been great.'
'I have hardly spoken to my wife much but they are liaising with them to look after her and I'm out helping where I can.'
He was still hopeful William would be found alive, adding his son was 'pretty hardcore' and knew the area well.
Police advised volunteers to stay home instead of search for William, saying: 'At this stage we do not require any assistance from the public'
William's dad Shane Wall fought back tears during a press conference on Wednesday, several hours before the search for his son came to a tragic end
Mr Wall said his 'energetic, very athletic' son loved exercise and had dreams of joining the police force or the army when he got older.
William had a younger sister, Sophie, and two older brothers Jake and Harrison, who joined the search effort on Tuesday night.
Searchers had been concentrating on the Warburton Rail Trail and the O'Shannassy Aqueduct Trail, 16km from William's home, after police received a reported sighting of an 'upset male' in the area on Tuesday.
William's disappearance comes three months after non-verbal autistic teen William Callaghan became separated from his family during a walk at Mount Disappointment, 60km north of Melbourne.
The teen spent two nights alone before being miraculously found safe and well.
Police blocked off this road in Yarra Junction after William Wall's body was found
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMieGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRhaWx5bWFpbC5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FydGljbGUtODc2MzAzMS9NZWxib3VybmUtYXV0aXN0aWMtYm95LVdpbGxpYW0tV2FsbC0xNC1kZWFkLWdvaW5nLWpvZy1kaXNhcHBlYXJpbmcuaHRtbNIBfGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRhaWx5bWFpbC5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FydGljbGUtODc2MzAzMS9hbXAvTWVsYm91cm5lLWF1dGlzdGljLWJveS1XaWxsaWFtLVdhbGwtMTQtZGVhZC1nb2luZy1qb2ctZGlzYXBwZWFyaW5nLmh0bWw?oc=5
2020-09-23 08:26:42Z
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