Police reveal footprint found in search for Gus and family has been prepared for other potential outcomes
A man with specialist tracking skills has joined the hunt for a four-year-old boy lost in remote SA, following the discovery of a footprint four days after he was last seen.
A tracker is on the ground following a crucial footprint clue in the desperate hunt for four-year-old Gus as the search enters day five.
Superintendent Mark Syrus, officer in charge of Yorke Mid North, said that a child’s footprint was found on Tuesday, about 500m north of the family homestead where the boy was last seen playing in the sand on Saturday.
“We found a footprint which we’ve identified as a boot size similar to what Gus was wearing when he was last seen,” he said.
Foot patrols picked up the print near a road on the property and police quickly enlisted a man with specialised tracking skills to scour the area for further clues.
But Supt Syrus said so far nothing else had been found, with strong dusty winds likely sweeping away other tracks.
“He’s got a very close connection to the country here so he came up (Tuesday) afternoon to search the area and he’s back out in the field now,” he said.
“We’re looking from one lens and we just need someone to look at it from another lens.”
It’s understood the tracker has worked on the property before and knows it well.
When asked why it had taken until day four to bring in a tracker, Supt Syrus said: “We consider all assets to start with but before we found something that sort of triggered the fact that we could sort of bring someone into it to assist.”
An Indigenous tracker who has worked with SA Police before says he also offered his help in the first days of the desperate search for missing four-year-old Gus — but never got a call back.
Aaron Stewart, who has assisted police in previous outback rescues, said he thinks valuable time was lost before a specialist was finally brought in this week.
“I think they should have had someone out there tracking sooner,” he said.
“Police do it in a formula, which takes time. And in the bush, the heat, the flies, the wind, don’t wait for no one.”
“A good tracker will take wind changes, weather, and all the different elements into consideration.
“You also need someone there that knows how to get in the mind of the person… Put yourself in the mind of a four-year-old and where he might go.”
On Wednesday a bus load of 40 police cadets arrived and combed areas west of the footprint, while senior detectives from Adelaide arrived as part of what police called “due diligence.”
Supt Syrus said difficult conversations had been held with Gus’ family to “prepare them” as hope of finding the boy alive slips with each passing hour.
“It’s a long time, there’s someone been without water, food and shelter so we’ve just prepared the family for we might not be able to find Gus alive,” he said.
“However from the start we continue to hope that this little fella is tough and he is still hanging in there.”
Dozens of police, SES volunteers, local station owners have helped scour the vast property, which covers more than 60 square kilometres, with more joining to help today. There are also reports ADF personnel have been brought in.
“To get more boots on the ground, we have the services of 40 police cadets from the police academy travelling up … as soon as they get here they will be briefed and deployed,” Supt Syrus said.
Trained dogs had also helped with the search, but Supt Syrus said given the short window of opportunity, none had picked up a scent of Gus.
Police divers have also scoured dams and water tanks on the family’s property.
On Tuesday, Bill Harbison, a close family friend, read a statement on behalf of Gus’ parents and extended relatives – their first public words since their boy’s disappearance.
“We’re devastated by the disappearance of our beloved Gus on Saturday afternoon,” the statement read.
“It has come as a shock to our family and friends and we’re struggling to comprehend what has happened.
“Gus’ absence is felt by all of us and we miss him more than words can express. Our hearts are aching and we are holding on to hope that he will be found and returned safely.
“We are incredibly grateful to the South Australian police, the emergency services and the many organisations, community members and friends who have come together to help look for Gus.
“At this time we kindly ask for privacy as we focus all our energy on supporting the search and working closely with the police. We are deeply distressed and ask the media to refrain from contacting us directly. Thank you for respecting our wishes and continuing to keep Gus in your thoughts.”
Gus is caucasian, with long blond curly hair.
He was last seen in a grey sun hat, a cobalt blue long-sleeve T-shirt with a yellow Minion on the front, light grey pants and boots.
