The amazing rescue of little William Callaghan in rugged bushland at the top of a freezing mountain has some speculating his autism acted like superpowers.
But while some on the autism spectrum claim to posses those superpowers, a top professor believes the reality is we will probably never know if or how the condition assisted the 14-year old.
Professor Cheryl Dissanayake, who is the Director & Chair of Melbourne’s Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre has told Daily Mail Australia that practically no autistic person is the same.
William Callaghan after his rescue on Mount Disappointment on Wednesday
Professor Cheryl Dissanayake, who is the Director & Chair of Melbourne’s Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, says everyone with autism is different
William was rescued by volunteer Ben Gibbs (pictured) about a 20 minute hike from the summit
‘Some people will say their autism is their superpower and I’ve absolutely heard autistic people say that – that’s what kind of helps me do what I do,’ she told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday evening.
‘But with this case we just don’t know. The bottom line is he was found.’
William Callaghan spent the night at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital after surviving his freezing ordeal at the top of the treacherous Mount Disappointment in Victoria’s north.
The 14-year old, who has autism and cannot speak, was rescued after spending two nights alone and barefooted on the mountain.
William had managed to avoid hypothermia despite the bitter cold on top of the mountain.
Before he was found, his mum, Penny Callaghan, told reporters William had specific autistic characteristics, including a hatred of loud noises.
‘He’s very vulnerable … he’s very much in the moment. He will be seeking you know food and shelter and warmth and comfort too,’ she said.
Professor Dissanayake said without knowing William personally, she could only speculate with her extensive experience on how, if at all, autism may have assisted him in the wilderness.
‘I’m sure you’ve heard the comment if you’ve met one autistic person, you’ve met one autistic person and that I think is the key to this,’ she said.
‘It’s really hard to generalise if autism would have helped him or not.’
Professor Dissanayake said while it would be nice to think that William’s autism somehow assisted his survival and rescue, it was impossible to determine.
‘With William being non-verbal, you will never know,’ she said.
‘It’s really hard to ascribe whether in fact his particular set of circumstances helped or hindered him.’
William was rescued by volunteer Ben Gibbs about a 20 minute hike from the summit.
The local volunteer stumbled across William in dense bushland just a kilometre and a half from where search crews set up base camp.
Rescuers had to search through thick scrub played William’s favourite music in the hope he responded
William Callaghan after his rescue on Mount Disappointment on Wednesday
Mr Gibbs had given William some chocolate and discussed his favourite show, Thomas The Tank Engine, with him to coax him from the bush.
Professor Dissanayak said some autistic people had heightened senses and others less than ordinary.
‘We know some autistic people don’t respond to pain in the usual way. Is William one of those people? We don’t know,’ she said.
‘We have cases of autistic kids with third degree burns and they’ve never told their parents …did (William) feel cold? Did he have insensitivity to being cold? I mean some autistic people aren’t sensitive to pain in the same way. They have different pain thresholds.’
Professor Dissanayak said while William was described as ‘living in the moment’, they are also generally people of habit.
‘We know autistic people can often be very bound to routines. And routines are thrown about . This is not the usual routine so you can’t make summary assumptions.’
She also said his increased sensitivity to noise could have greatly impacted his chances of survival.
‘I was worried when I saw the motorbikes because I thought he might shy away from that because he’s sensitive to sound,’ she said.
Yet Professor Dissanayak praised the way rescuers went about the tough task bin such a sensitive and clever way.
Professor Cheryl Dissanayake is at the top of her field when it comes to autism
Professor Cheryl Dissanayake said we may never know exactly how William Callaghan’s autism worked for or against him
‘I think a great story here is what a long way we’ve come in really learning and understanding about autistic people and listening to the parents and taking their advice,’ she said.
‘This was really sensitively done and i just think hats off and to the community .’who rallied.’
Professor Dissanayak said it was heart warming to see the outpouring of emotion from Australians over the rescue of William.
‘We’re autistic researchers and it was really deeply felt what that boy must have been going through,’ she said.
‘The other amazing piece is I think how far the community has come in understanding and learning how to support autistic people.’