The 11-year-old survived for four nights alone after going missing on Good Friday while camping with his family at Lake Eildon, in Victoria’s north-east.
At a press conference on Thursday afternoon Luke’s mother Rachel Shambrook told reporters that it was the emergency services and volunteers searching for her son that helped to keep her hope alive.
“To have such support coming from all across Victoria and even further around Australia, we were just overwhelmed by it,” said Ms Shambrook.
“It was just something that we were immensely grateful for at the low times and obviously very much when Luke was found.”
More than 100 people volunteered to look for Luke over the Easter long weekend and Ms Shambrook offered her “immense thanks” to anyone involved.
Ms Shambrook credited her son’s bravery and his connection to the bush for his ability to survive on his own.
“He’s just shown us a side of him that we knew was there, his resilience has just blown us away,” she said.
“He has a real sense of belonging there and I guess that gave him lots of confidence but ultimately that place gives him lots of pleasure.”
Luke’s autism means he has limited communication so as it stands, how he spent his time alone is a mystery but Ms Shambrook admitted she was curious to find out how her son occupied himself while alone.
Upon being found Luke did not appear to be injured but was reportedly suffering hypothermia.
Ms Shambrook says her son’s condition was improving and noted he had resumed eating.
“He asked for a chocolate Easter egg. Today was the first Easter egg because he missed Easter entirely,” she said.
