Missing autistic man found sleeping in wrapped up carpet at Wellard construction site

Sunday, 25 June 2023 14:02

By Monique Welhan

Jin Hee Chong was found sleeping in some rolled up carpet. PIC: WA Police

A 21-year-old man who went missing for two days has been found sleeping in a rolled up carpet inside a partially built home in Wellard.

Jin Hee Chong, who is autistic and non-verbal, ran away from his carer at the Cockburn Youth Centre on Thursday afternoon.

A massive search effort got underway shortly after, involving police horses, drones, SES volunteers and members of the public.

The search focused on the Wellard area with residents urged to check their properties for any signs of Mr Chong.

After spending two nights lost in the freezing cold, a tradie stumbled upon the young man on Saturday morning.

He was wrapped up in carpet inside a partially built home.

“I walked into the house and there was some clothes laying on the laundry floor, which we thought was weird,” Ross the tradie said.

“About five minutes later we found a guy sleeping in one of the rooms under some off-cuts of carpet. He was cold and a little bit scared.”

Ross walked Mr Chong out to his car and gave him a jumper and in a bizarre twist of fate, the 21-year-old's sister and aunt drove past the construction site at the same time during the search, spotting their missing family member.

Mr Chong was taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital for a check-up.

WA Police and Mr Chong's family have thanked everyone involved in the search.

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