The mother of the 14-year-old autistic boy who was rescued from freezing Mt Disappointment after being missing for two nights has revealed the first meal he had on his way to hospital.
Speaking to media outside the Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital this morning, Penny Callaghan said her son, William Callaghan, may have broken his leg while missing — but added that he probably found the ordeal to be "just an adventure".
The teen was rescued just before 1pm on Wednesday after walking away from family members at the popular hiking spot 60km north of Melbourne on Monday afternoon.
She said William "may have a broken foot, which potentially means a cast".
She also revealed that his request for McDonald's on the way to the hospital was honoured. He consumed four large fries and some chicken nuggets, Penny said.
William Callaghan. Photo / Victoria Police
She said she the family likely has some more difficult times ahead because a child on the autism spectrum being unable to walk will be particularly hard.
"I'm not sure how he'll cope with (the cast)," she said. "These are the issues that happen with kids on the spectrum. A little medical procedure is a big event.
"This was a massive ordeal for him but to him it was probably just an adventure. He's just happy that I'm there. He slept pretty well last night, a lot better than I did."
Her thoughts now have turned to caring for William longer term and the questions she asks herself include: "Do I tether him to me to make sure it doesn't happen again?"
"It may happen again," she said. "I have to not make that happen."
As well as the potentially broken foot, William likely also has a bug in his ear which Penny says is difficult for doctors to remove because communicating what is happening to William is impossible.
Penny yesterday said her boy wanted to go to McDonald's on the way to the hospital because "I think he wanted hot, salty food."
"He is as well as he could be under the circumstances, he is quite calm considering," she said.
She said Will communicated that we was "confused and scared".
"He keeps pressing the body, saying his body feels weird," she said.
Temperatures at Mt Disappointment had hovered near 0C for two nights as more than 400 people combed the dense bush to find William.
A volunteer told news.com.au there were scenes of "absolute jubilation" among all those who walked into the bush to try and bring him home.
"We just saw Will," she said. "He looks in really good shape. He smiled at everyone as he was lifted out of the car."
Ben Gibbs, a bushwalker who was on his own, spotted Will standing and smiling in the bush. He offered the teen some food then called for help.
"He was just about 15 metres from me, just standing there, he was really angelic just standing," Gibbs told reporters at the scene.
Penny Callaghan says her boy Will is doing well after being lost in the bush for two days. Photo / ABC
"He looked in reasonable health, he wasn't shivering too bad, he didn't have socks on so I put some socks on him and a jacket. I gave him some chocolate."
Prime Minister Scott Morrison was among those to express their thanks to all the volunteers, police and SES workers who helped in the search.
