SES volunteers describe ‘absolute amazement’ at finding AJ

A wombat burrow, a tiny footprint and a curving creek bed were helped lead volunteer to the lost three-year-old.

The search which spanned four days and 650-acre property for AJ ended at a curving creek below a cliff face.

Veteran SES volunteer Greg Chalmers, who was formerly a paramedic, was with crew members from Port Stephens SES who had been tasked with searching craggy terrain at the Putty property – about 75 kilometres south of Singleton, in the NSW Hunter Valley.

Their search began at 8.30am and finished just before 11.30am.

Chalmers, who goes by the moniker of Bluey had just looked down a Wombat burrow before he shone his torch on a tiny footprint.

NSW Police spotted the child when the SES crew was about 15 metres from him. Picture Supplied

The NSW Police helicopter was hovering overhead telling the SES crew Team Charlie to come about 15 metres forward.

“I was in the river working through and we just came around this corner and there is this beautiful little kid on his knees there and you go ‘wow’ after four days. I couldn’t believe it,” Bluey said.

The disbelief was felt across the crew.

Port Stephens SES deputy unit commander Alysha Springett was the first member to see Bluey with little AJ.

“I came around the corner and I saw Bluey sitting there with AJ,” she said.

“I was just amazed. I felt complete amazement.”

Bluey carrying AJ out of the bush. Picture: Supplied

Dad Anthony Elfalak after visiting AJ in the ambulance. Picture: Peter Lorimer/NCA NewsWire

After giving AJ some fresh water the crew got on the radio to tell the child’s family he was okay.

“We have AJ. AJ is okay,” was the message sent to his family who had been frantically searching for their boy since Friday.

The crew then had to make plans of how to get the three-year-old autistic and non-verbal boy out of the scraggly bushland and back to his parents.

But before they could leave AJ had fallen asleep in Bluey’s arms.

Two crew members took turns in carrying him out of the bushland. He mostly slept but when he occasionally stirred Ms Springett sung him back to sleep.

AJ only had minor injuries. Picture: Peter Lorimer/NCA NewsWire

“Good boy AJ, good boy AJ, AJ good boy,” she chanted.

There was amazement and feelings of ecstasy when the crew emerged from the bush with the missing three-year-old.

His parents screamed and ran towards him.

Amazingly the child’s only injuries were nappy rash and minor scratches.

Ms Springett said there could have hardly been a better person to find AJ than Bluey.

“He is a beautiful, beautiful man,” she said.

Originally published as SES volunteers describe ‘absolute amazement’ at finding AJ