Mum's shock after son, 9, found alone on busy road

A mum said she felt "sick to her stomach" after her nine-year-old autistic son was found on a busy main road by himself when she said he was supposed to be having one-to-one care at a sensory group.

Gemma, from St Helens, said she was still "in shock" that William, who is non-verbal, was found by a passing motorist while wandering in and out of traffic on Liverpool Road in Huyton on Thursday.

She said she wanted answers about how William had managed to escape the building as it was vital that SEND groups were 100% safe because "the next child might not be so lucky".

Moving Senses told the BBC an investigation was under way and that it had never lost a child off-site before.

Moving Senses has been described as a lifeline for children with special needs and disabilities.

It provides respite care and short breaks for children and young people across Merseyside.

Gemma, 43, said: "We got a call... saying 'William has climbed over the fence - he got out, but don't worry because the police brought him back'."

She said she was told her son had been missing from the site but that it was "played down" like it "wasn't a big incident".

Gemma said she was so grateful to the member of the public who spotted William wandering into the road in front of the traffic and did a U-turn.

She said the woman stayed with her son and called the police.

"She's an angel for keeping him safe," Gemma said.

She described "feeling sick to the stomach [about the thought of] him out alone" and what could have happened.

"If he would have got hurt, he wouldn't have been able to tell anybody his name... or even where he's hurting," she said.

Gemma said she went straight to the centre and collected William and took him home "where we know he is safe".

She said: "Trusting someone with one of the most precious things you have is really hard, especially when your child's vulnerable and has no voice.

"I really did think he was in safe hands because it's full of SEND children. He should have had a one-to-one because obviously there's a bit of a flight risk.

"He loves trying to get through doors and stuff but I really thought that this was a good place where he was safe."

Although Gemma said she received messages of support on social media, she also faced a backlash from some people, accusing her of neglect.

She said this had made the ordeal even more traumatic.

Gemma said she would like the incident to be thoroughly investigated.

"These groups are so important to children with complex needs but they need to be 100% safe as the next child might not be so lucky," she added.

Knowsley Council said the incident had been referred to the local authority designated officer (LADO).

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