Search continues with first photo released of four-year old Gus who disappeared from his homestead at Yunta in SA’s Outback
A goat herder with intimate knowledge of the area has joined the frantic search for four-year-old Gus in SA’s Outback, as it approaches a week since the little boy was last seen.
- Police release image of footprint
- Expert hasn’t given up hope for Gus
- Family breaks silence on missing son
A goat herder with intimate knowledge of the area has joined the frantic search for four-year-old Gus in SA’s Outback, as it approaches a week since the little boy was last seen.
In a heartbreaking development, police say they are now preparing his family for the worst, with the search near Yunta in SA’s northeast moving to a recovery mission.
The face of Gus, who has been missing in the harsh Outback since last weekend, has been shared by the family for the first time, in a bid to bring fresh leads in the desperate search.
August, affectionately known as Gus, was last seen on Saturday afternoon playing outside his family homestead, located about 40km south of Yunta. His disappearance prompted a large-scale search.
Royce Player, a goat herder who has worked in the area since the 2000s and a tracker, has joined the search on Thursday in case his knowledge of the land would bring a different perspective.
“It’s very easy to miss a four-year-old who isn’t very big,” Mr Player said pointing to the shrub dense landscape.
“It doesn’t hurt (for someone) to backtrack and go over the tracks again. Especially in this weather at night it’s frozen here – it’s the coldest place in South Australia. A little boy lost – wants his mum.
“I reckon he’s still here somewhere; it’s my gut feeling.”
On Thursday morning, the search for the curly-haired boy was boosted by the Australian Defence Force, with 48 pairs of boots hitting the ground.
The army personnel relieved worn out volunteers, who have been doing between 30,000 and 40,000 steps per day, as well as expanding the foot search beyond the established 2.5km circumference.
However, despite the dogged determination from searchers to find Gus alive and well, the search has passed its sixth day and has now entered its recovery phase.
Officer-in-charge of Yorke Mid North superintendent Mark Syrus said it was unusual for a young child to disappear without leaving behind a trace.
“A-four-year-old doesn’t disappear into thin air, they have to be somewhere and our job is to try and find which way he’s gone,” Superintendent Syrus said.
“We’re hoping that Gus has crawled into a hole and still hanging in there … but we are in the recovery phase.
“The fact that he’s been gone for over 100 hours – it's a long time for a boy to be out in the elements.
Superintendent Syrus has also cast doubt on the child’s footprint they’ve found on Tuesday, only 500m away from the homestead.
“Now that we know that we can’t find any other footprints around the place - that (footprint) could have been there a week,” he said.
“Our tracker drove around the property trying to look for some clues … he could find some cat prints and fox prints, but no little boy’s prints so that really just refocused our search back to the property.
“We’ve scoured this whole property again, checking every building underneath every bit of tin, just in case, (but) unfortunately nothing was located.”
“We just got to be careful that we don’t funnel all our attention around that one little clue. We still got to look at the big picture and continue looking at areas he could have gone.”
“A four-year-old doesn’t disappear into thin air, they have to be somewhere and our job is to try and find which way he’s gone.”
The family residence has been searched for the third time to ensure no clues have been missed.
Meanwhile, Robert Head owner of Bobby’s China Bar a mobile food van, has been offering free burgers and sandwiches to the volunteers.
“It seemed like the right thing to do,” he said. “To make sure everyone is well fed and we’ll nourished.
“I have a wonderful team of staff who volunteered to come out (from Peterborough) and to help feed all the folks who are here today.
“There’s such a an enormous police response and so many SES volunteers here and you can tell the commitment and dedication of everyone down here.
“Everyone is trying so hard to find young Gus … In my heart of hearts, I hope he’s found and he’s safe and well but as time goes on, of course, rationally that hope starts to fade.”
The family has been told to prepare for the worst outcome, with a victim contact officer providing professional support during the traumatic time.
Superintendent Syrus said the family was “holding it together”.
“They’re a very private family and they don’t get many visitors up here. It’s very tough for them, they like the isolation and over the last six days they’ve had over 100 people in the area being part of their lives,” he said.
“We have them space because that’s what they needed … Just a bit of time to rationalise what has happened and to come to terms with it.”
He said SA Police’s Major Crime unit attended the scene on Wednesday as part of normal police procedure and had returned to Adelaide.
