A family has been reunited after an urgent search was launched to find an 11-year-old autistic boy who went missing from Perth’s western suburbs during wild weather.

Norman Krakouer, who is non-verbal, spent the night out in the extreme conditions after he was last seen near a playground about 5.15pm on Lantana Ave in Claremont on Saturday, wearing only a pair of blue shorts.

Temperatures dropped to just 9C in Perth overnight.

 

The urgency to find Norman had been exacerbated due to forecasted severe weather conditions barrelling towards large parts of the states south west on Sunday.

As search efforts ramped up ahead of the storm, rescuers became increasingly concerned due to cool temperature and Norman’s inability to communicate verbally with people.

Police had warned people to not approach Norman, who may run from strangers, but to instead call police.

Norman was found by members of the public who had joined the search for the young boy. Norman was found by members of the public who had joined the search for the young boy. Credit: 7NEWS

Just before 9am, Norman was spotted by two rescue volunteers walking down a driveway to an unknown house.

The homeowner said she heard a commotion outside and opened the door to find the boy and his rescuers.

“We brought him inside, gave him a blanket and tried to warm him up” the homeowner told 7NEWS.

“He was relatively happy, just cold.”

Police said Norman’s parents would take him to hospital for a check up, but he was otherwise unharmed.Police said Norman’s parents would take him to hospital for a check up, but he was otherwise unharmed. Credit: 7NEWS

The homeowner said he was unable to communicate with them, and needed reassurance before police arrived.

Inspector Mark Tobiassen said it appeared Norman was making his way back home when he was found.

“He was making his way back to the house, it would seem, and someone saw him in the street and took him in, wrapped him up, called the police,” he said.

Tobiassen said it was a “great result” and thanked everyone involved in the search.

“(Norman’s family) asked me to express their thanks to everybody who had anything to do with searching for Norman overnight.”

Norman’s parents drove him to hospital for a check-up, but he was otherwise uninjured during his ordeal.

SOURCE: https://7news.com.au/news/parents-reunited-with-non-verbal-son-after-child-went-missing-overnight-in-perth-c-22362214