‘Off-grid’ teen promises weekly call to mum

The mother of a Lysterfield teen who vanished for more than a week on a solo adventure says lockdown may have pushed her son to venture out and live free.

The mother of a teen who vanished for more than a week on a solo camping trip believed to be inspired by a famously unfortunate US adventurer hopes her son makes good on a promise to regularly call her as he continues his venture.

Sam Thomson, 19, from Lysterfield South, was found “safe and well” on Friday after abandoning his car and taking off into the bush near the Murray River last week.

His mother Elizabeth Thomson told the Sunday Herald Sun her son was “a very private person” and his intentions now were unclear, but his family was glad he was OK.

“I am just relieved and grateful,” she said.

It is believed a member of the public spotted Mr Thomson on Friday and alerted police. The teenager then used a police officer’s phone to contact his mother, who got little out of him.

“He gave lots of yes and no answers. He was happy to talk to me, but not effusive,” Ms Thomson said.

“He didn’t tell me much – he clearly didn’t want to. He’s a very private person.”

She said her son would not say when he would ­return home but agreed to call her once a week.

“I am hoping he does that,” she said.

Sam Thomson is continuing on his solo adventure but has promised to call home weekly. Picture: Facebook

Mr Thomson left home on the morning of February 10, leaving a cryptic note inside the book Into the Wild, suggesting he was going off grid.

Loved ones feared he was trying to follow in the footsteps of the book’s subject, Christopher McCandless, who in the early 1990s left behind his life to hike the rugged wilderness of Alaska.

McCandless died after a sustained struggle in the harsh conditions and possibly eating poisoned berries.

Concerns for Mr Thomson grew when his Nissan Navara was found abandoned in the Swan Hill ­region almost 400km from home.

His family knew he had no phone, no identification and no money.

Ms Thomson said her mind raced over the eight days her son was missing. She described the moment she finally heard his voice again on Friday.

“I was astounded, in shock and excited all at once,” she said.

Her son’s desire to live off-grid remained somewhat of a mystery to her.

He had not spoken to her about it, nor did she know he was planning a trip.

She said the pandemic may have contributed to his will to venture out and live free.

“He hadn’t had a particularly rough time, he maintained his job throughout the period. But every child and teen has been doing it really tough,” she said.

Ms Thomson thanked the police, SES and hundreds of people who assisted in the search.

“I am so grateful and so ­appreciative to the hundreds and hundreds, maybe even thousands, of people who helped search and share (his missing status on social media) and for keeping their eyes open,” she said.