Disappearance of boy triggers harrowing flashback for family
The mother of an autistic teen who was miraculously found four-days after going missing in the bush says she is praying for good news on as the search for William Callaghan at Mt Disappointment enters another night.
VIC News
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The disappearance of William Callaghan has triggered a wave of harrowing flashbacks for a family who endured the same pain.
Rachel Shambrook, the mother of autistic teen Luke Shambrook, said losing him in the bush in 2015 sent them on a “horrendous rollercoaster of emotion”.
Luke was just 11 years of age when he vanished in rugged and wet terrain in Lake Eildon and was found after an extensive four-day search.
Ms Shambrook was praying for good news for the Callaghan family.
“I understand where they are at, the heartache and the willing they would have for their son to walk out of the bush and all the hope and desperation that kicks in,” said Ms Shambrook.
“It is such a difficult time and we have such a deep sense of feeling and longing for them and hope the community will support them and give the utmost hope to find Will.”
Recalling her son’s disappearance, Ms Shambrook said she first felt “hopeful” he would be found.
But days in her thoughts became darker and she feared she would never see him again.
“I can’t begin to imagine what the (Callaghan) family must be thinking. The emotions come in waves,” she said.
“You think ‘he’s gone’ and then you become self-protective and think he will be found. And then another wave of emotion comes and you think ‘this is very serious, he has been gone way too long now’.
“It’s a horrendous time with so much uncertainty and you want to just will your son to walk out of the bush.”
Luke, now aged 17, can’t speak but was clearly traumatised by his time lost in the wilderness, his mum said.
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