Police share heartbreaking update on search for missing 4-year-old

The search for a missing boy in remote South Australia has ended with police, soldiers and volunteers uncovering no trace of the four-year-old.

Gus Lamont has been missing from the remote sheep station since September 27.

Police, defense force members and SES volunteers conducted a ground search at the Oak Park Station this week, which extended 3.4 miles around the homestead, but it failed to uncover any evidence of Gus.

Authorities have now searched about 351 miles of the property to locate the young boy who was last seen 19 days ago.

Police led two rounds of searches since Gus went missing.

The first round was suspended on October 3.

Four days later, police announced a renewed effort would focus on an area outside the original search zone.

The search party halted efforts about midday on Friday.

Police had been forced to call off the search early on Thursday because of 97 degree heat.

A police spokesman said the fact that Gus was a small child, and the terrain was extremely rugged, harsh and subject to changing weather conditions had made searching difficult and more challenging.

“Each of these factors may have contributed to the lack of evidence discovered,” a spokesman said.

“The location also presents less opportunities for police searching for a missing person, compared with an urban environment.”

Authorities have used helicopters, drones, infra-red and satellite technology to support ground searchers, but so far have been unable to find any trace of the boy.

“Police have been making every effort to return Gus to his family through detailed, meticulous and protracted searching of the property and this remains a priority,” a spokesman said.

“In the initial stages police had hoped to find Gus alive, but sadly the search has become a recovery operation.

“The search for Gus has been one of the largest operations of its type conducted by SA Police and all involved were initially intensely focused on locating him alive, but this shifted to a determination to provide some closure for his family.”

Thursday’s search

Earlier, South Australia Police confirmed on Thursday afternoon they had ended the day with no new evidence being found.

The search began at sunrise on Thursday and ended at midday due to the extreme conditions.

“The third day of the continuing search for missing four-year-old Gus in the State’s Mid North has concluded with no evidence being found,” SA Police said in a statement.

“The search resumed in zones outside of the original search area at sunrise, but was concluded at midday because of extreme heat and windy conditions.

“It will resume on Friday 17 October when it is anticipated the searching of the remaining identified zones will be completed.”

Police and defense force personnel returned to the Oak Park Station homestead about 25 miles south of Yunta, in South Australia’s Mid North, on Tuesday for a renewed search, three weeks after the boy disappeared.

Search crews are understood to be concentrating on an area outside of a zone already searched by authorities.

Resources used in the continuing search include 18 police officers, 82 ADF members and 33 vehicles, and SES resources include seven members, a drone and two utility terrain vehicles.

Gus was last seen playing in the sand at his family sheep station.

It’s understood Gus was living at the homestead with his mother Jess, his one-year-old brother Ronnie and his grandparents.

Speaking on SA radio station FIVEAA on Tuesday morning, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said Taskforce Horizon had been set up to find Gus.

He clarified the resumption was not due to any new suspicion of foul play, noting the family had been co-operating with inquiries.

“We have nothing to suggest foul play at this time, but we’re obligated to consider every possibility,” he said.

“Our efforts are focused on comprehensively searching the property and we’re endeavouring to recover Gus for his family.”

Mr. Stevens said the taskforce would continue to investigate the circumstances of Gus’ disappearance.

“This is essentially just exploring every possibility,” he said.

“We’ve done everything we can, based on expert advice, in relation to where we should be searching, but this is making sure we leave no stone unturned.”

A police spokesman said officers continued to be in regular and close communication with Gus’ family, who are assisting authorities with their investigation.

His family members are not accused of any wrongdoing or involvement in his disappearance.

The search was scaled back last week after foot patrols, divers, all-terrain vehicles, helicopters, drones, Australian Defense Force members and Aboriginal trackers failed to turn up any clues over a 292 mile area.