What are the odds?!
01.Missing autistic teen's favourite TV show used in 'race against time’
www.9news.com.au/national/will-callaghan-missing-teen-with-autism-mount-disappointment-victoria/db42ed0c-0674-4c89-9599-fc2e8ee0a6e3
Search teams have been blasting TV show Thomas the Tank Engine over loud speakers in the hope it helps find a Victorian boy missing on a freezing mountain. It is now a "race against time" to track down William Callaghan, police have said, as overnight temperatures on Mount Disappointment dropped to below zero for a second night. At 5am this morning, the temperature on the exposed mountain and vast search site was sitting at just 2 Celcius. "There is a sense of urgency here," Search and Rescue Squad Senior Sergeant Greg Paul told Today.
"It is a race against time now to try and find young William." The search for William, a 14-year-old with non-verbal autism, has now entered its third day after he went missing in regional Victoria over the long weekend. As the family walked towards the summit, William raced ahead and became separated from his family, wearing just blue trackpants and a hoodie. Unable to talk, William taps his chest to communicate and his favourite music is from the 'Thomas the Tank Engine' television program. Sen Sgt Paul said search teams were using a "variety of techniques" to try and attract William's attention. "A lot of people are using light, camp fires and sound in moments of stillness." Thomas the Tank Engine had been played over loud speakers, he said. "We're doing everything we possibly can." Hundreds of police and volunteers trawled bushland yesterday, with crews continuing throughout the night without halting the search.
A mix of four-wheel-drives, people on foot, motorbikes, horseback and a police helicopter using thermal imaging are involved in the search. Police have said William is very energetic and food-focused, and it is believed he may have walked into a house to help himself to food or tuck himself into a bed. Sen Sgt Paul said the area had very thick bush from bushfire regrowth which hampered searches. Police believe William could have covered a lot of distance by now and hope he had found somewhere warm to insulate himself. "We're fairly confident we can have success," Sen Sgt Paul said. "We're thinking positive." Sen Sgt Paul told reporters on Tuesday they were fighting against time, but remained hopeful. "It's quite life-threatening weather, but we have had people survive several nights in these weather conditions as well," he said. "Luke Shambrook, six years ago … we found him on day five, he was alive and he's alive today."
02.Autistic teen missing in NSW Hunter Region
www.9news.com.au/national/autistic-teen-darshan-siegel-missing-from-nsw-hunter-region/c3fbad94-7f27-4666-9062-900ecc8467f6
Police are searching for an autistic teenager who went missing in the NSW Hunter Region overnight. Officers say Darshan Sigel, 13, walked off from his mother just after 9pm in the Port Stephens area, while travelling from the NSW north coast to the Blue Mountains. They had stopped for a rest at a car park in Heatherbrae, at the intersection of the Pacific Hwy and Masonite Rd. Police were alerted just after 10.30pm and began a search with the dog squad but have not been able to locate Darshan. Polair has also been called in to help, however poor weather conditions are making it difficult to see the ground. Darshan is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 180cm tall, with a thin build, and sandy blonde hair. He was last seen wearing a pink hooded jumper with a black jacket, black pants, and yellow shoes. Darshan was last seen walking along the Pacific Highway at Heatherbrae and is known to like public transport. Police are urging anyone who sees him to call triple zero or Crime Stoppers.
03.Boy with autism missing in northern NSW
www.9news.com.au/national/boy-with-autism-missing-in-nsw-hunter/72da7b13-39b3-45fc-b500-885e4e02301d
A search has resumed for a teenage boy on the autism spectrum who went missing in northern NSW. Darshan Siegel, 13, walked off from a car park in the Port Stephens area while travelling from the north coast to the Blue Mountains with his mother. The pair had stopped for a rest in Heatherbrae, at the intersection of the Pacific Highway and Masonite Road, about 8.30pm on Tuesday. NSW Police were alerted just after 10.30pm that the boy was missing and began a search with a dog squad but could not find him. The search resumed early on Wednesday with various police resources including the dog unit and and State Emergency Service personnel. A helicopter was called in but poor weather in the area has hampered the aerial operation. Darhsan is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 180cm tall, of thin build, with blue eyes and sandy blonde hair. He was last seen wearing a pink hooded jumper, black jacket, black pants and yellow shoes.