BREAKING: Victorian Police are reporting that missing autistic boy, Luke Shambrook, has been found alive.
The 11 year old, who went missing on Good Friday almost five days ago, was found by search and rescue near Lake Eildon in the early hours of this morning. Victoria Police Acting Commander Rick Nugent has said that Luke is “dehydrated, and suffering from hypothermia”, but otherwise fine.
“Everybody’s overwhelmed by the news Luke has been located. Four nights in this area of Victoria, the thick scrub, the longer it went the more challenging it was going to be for us to have him located safe and well was, from what we’ve been told well, it’s just wonderful news.”
Luke was found sitting on the side of a hill, around 2.2km from where he went missing, and was helicoptered out by police. Pictured being carried out on a stretcher, covered in shock blankets, Luke seemed pale and scared, but not in any critical danger.
His parents have passed on their gratitude through the Police Commander, saying “‘They asked if I could pass on their appreciation to all searchers, to volunteers, to police, to emergency services, Parks Victoria, SES and everyone else that assisted in the search”.
Luke’s mother, Rachel, was pictured kissing and hugging him as he was being stretchered out.
Luke’s mother, Rachel, kisses her son soon after he is found. Photo: Joe Armao.
A beanie belonging to an missing 11-year-old autistic boy found close to the campsite where he was last seen has revitalised a police search for him in a Victorian national park.
Luke Shambrook went missing on Good Friday during an Easter camping weekend with his family at Candlebark campsite in Lake Eildon National Park, about 80 kilometres north-east of Melbourne.
The beanie was found yesterday in an area known as Devil’s Cove, not far from the Candlebark campsite and close to Perfect Cure Creek, a watercourse flowing into Lake Eildon.
The discovery follows a five-day search by Victorian Police involving the dog squad, the police airwing, police motorcycles, the mounted branch and 4WDs, along with campers and other civilian volunteers.
The beanie, the first solid evidence belonging to Luke discovered in the search, gives police an indication of the direction Luke was heading after he left the family’s campsite.
Campers and around 40 volunteers from surrounding towns have been helping police in the search, which has included waterways and walking trails. Luke has a fascination with water.
The discovery also follows a reported sighting of a boy on Sunday evening in an area around the Devil’s River, to the south of Candlebark campground.
Police say they remain hopeful of finding Luke. “This is still a search and rescue operation,” said a police spokesman.
