“I can’t sleep knowing I’m safe in bed and warm and he is somewhere out there and he’d be so scared,” said the teen’s mother, Elizabeth Barkley

NEED TO KNOW

• Police in Australia are searching for a 17-year-old boy with autism who went missing during a camping trip on Nov. 6
• William went missing while camping with a friend in Walhalla, a rural community located about 115 miles outside Melbourne
• “I can’t sleep knowing I’m safe in bed and warm and he is somewhere out there and he’d be so scared,” the teen’s mother, Elizabeth Barkley, said

A mother says she’s experiencing one of her “worst nightmares” after her 17-year-old son, who has autism, went missing during a camping trip.

Police in Victoria, Australia, shared on Sunday, Nov. 8, that they are still searching for 17-year-old William after he went missing while camping with a friend in Walhalla, a rural community located about 115 miles outside Melbourne, on Friday, Nov. 6.

William was last seen near the town’s Stoney Creek Road at around 4 p.m. local time, police said.

“William, also known as Will, was with another boy to camp for the weekend when he walked a short distance to another part of their camp,” police said in a press release. “When he failed to return shortly after, the boy searched the area but found no trace of Will.”

Speaking with ABC News Australia, William’s mother, Elizabeth Barkley, said her son — who has Level 2 autism — does not have camping experience and was unfamiliar with the area.

Police also said they believe the teen may have become disoriented and lost his way in the terrain.

“At the moment, he’d probably be very stressed and panicking,” Barkley said.

When police searched the area, they found the teen’s cooler containing food and water.

“I just don’t know what’s happened … we’ve found the esky [cooler], but there’s just no sign of him. It’s like he’s just vanished,” Barkley said.

Police said that at the time of his disappearance, William was wearing a pair of shorts and work boots, and his phone was left behind at the campsite. The area saw lows of around 36 degrees at night.

“I’m just really worried. He has been out there for two days. He is probably cold and hungry,” the teen’s mother said.

According to Barkley, William’s family is also concerned that he may have walked a long distance from the campsite, considering he is about 6-foot-2 and in good shape.

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“I just hope he is curled up somewhere and has gone to sleep,” she said. “He is a deep sleeper.”

Police Acting Superintendent Melanie Hamshere told ABC News that about 65 to 70 people were taking part in the search operations for William, and police are now asking for a couple who stopped to help the teen’s friend during the initial search to come forward.

“We’re certainly concerned for Will’s safety,” Hamshere said. “It’s been quite cold overnight for both nights.”

“The longer he is out there, the more difficult it is for him,” she added, noting that the teen’s lack of clothing and cold weather could become dangerous.

As for Barkley, she is urging anyone who encounters William or finds camping equipment in the area — including a blue or black pillow, a table or a tackle box — to contact police.

“I can’t sleep knowing I’m safe in bed and warm and he is somewhere out there and he’d be so scared,” she said.

Barkley noted that William is likely to speak to anyone he encounters.

“You see these things on the news that happen to other people, and you just don’t think it is going to happen to you until it does,” she said.

“You don’t know where he is, whether he is still alive, if he is OK. I just want him back home,” she added.

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