Day 134 Amsterdam - Media Information for Immediate Release 23 September 2010

EXHAUSTED FATHER SEEKS SOME PRIVATE SPACE TO REUNITE WITH HIS SON

Ken Thompson, the man whose fairy-tale end to his long and difficult quest to find his son, Andrew said today in Amsterdam, 'I have been overwhelmed with the help and support given to me from around the world during the incredible two weeks since I found the son I feared I'd lost forever. During the past week, I've had two emotional meetings with Andrew.

'He needs time to process those meetings and I hope to see him more frequently as the days go by. He's only a little boy and a lot has happened in his life in the past two-and-a-half years.'

Mr Thompson said that he'd been told by the people looking after Andrew that he's been telling the kids where he's staying that he's seen his dad and that his dad is going to visit him & the other kids as well. He said that Andrew now sleeps with photos downloaded from the www.findandrew.com site beside his bed.

'Andrew visited his mother at the weekend. This was the first time he had seen her since she was taken into custody and he was taken into care.' Ken said that the meeting was without incident.

In excess of 3000 emails and other messages of goodwill and support have been sent to Mr Thompson. He has given interviews and TV footage to about 50 media representatives during the past fortnight, resulting in stories in a dozen countries.

'I particularly want to thank the thousands of people who've sent email messages to me (& Andrew) and those who've left messages on the blog, Andrew's website, and Andrew's Facebook. One day, Andrew will see them all.'

'I have tried to fully co-operate with the Australian & international media to try to repay them for the role they played in finding Andrew. Without their support I would not have been able to place as much information on www.findandrew.com. Their articles also made sure that anyone who entered Andrew's name into any Internet search engine would come across something about him. This is what happened when a person in Amsterdam became suspicious & did exactly that,' he said today.

He was issuing this information now in the hope that his privacy and his attention to focus on Andrew will be respected during the next week or so. 'My only priority now is my son's welfare,' he said today. 'If the media could give me some breathing space to get myself and Andrew reunited, I would be very grateful.'

ENDS

Info: Robin Bowles 0418-102-732 or +61 418-102-732 (international)