Gold Coast surf life saver finds 8-year-old boy who went missing at Burleigh Heads on his scooter

The father of a boy, 8, who went missing and sparked a police search has revealed what prompted his son to pedal a whopping 13km unassisted on his scooter.

The father of a young Victorian boy who sparked a four-hour police search when he went on an epic 13km scooter odyssey has revealed the instructions that prompted his son to do it.

Eight-year-old Henry who went missing on his pedal-power scooter for four hours – sparking a citywide police search on the Gold Coast – turned up safe a remarkable 13km away.

His relieved dad Nick Costello told 9 News Gold Coast it was a simple misunderstanding after he told his son to ride to the “end of the beach”: “Our version of the end of the beach was North Burleigh and his was The Spit.”

Henry said he was feeling a bit tired: “My legs hurt a little bit.”

The visiting Victorian kid was scooting slightly ahead of his parents on the ocean side pathway at Burleighon the Gold Coast about 8am on Wednesday when he suddenly vanished.

He was found four hours later about 13km away – a journey made solely under pedal power on his orange push scooter, stunned police believe.

Surfers Paradise Police Inspector Kayleen James said: “Mum reports he is embarrassed.

“He is embarrassed with the attention.

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said the boy was found near the Sheraton Grand Mirage on Seaworld Drive, Main Beach just before midday after disappearing from Burleigh Heads.

“I think mum will give him some time to settle down and talk to him about his adventure.”

His disappearance sparked a giant and frantic almost citywide coastal hunt for the boy which included a police, life guards, surf life savers, a helicopter and members of the public.

It was not until four hours later – just before midday – he was found by a Gold Coast City Council lifeguard near the Sheraton Grand Mirage in Main Beach.

After he was found, police reunited the boy with his parents.

“It’s a very long journey. I have spoken to mum and she believes he was on his way to meet family for a swim trip and he thought he was heading in the right direction.”

Police are appealing for urgent public assistance to locate an 8-year-old boy reported missing in the Burleigh Heads area.

The boy and his parents are from Victoria but regularly visit family in Burleigh Heads.

Police said the boy was “familiar” with the area and during their time had gone for walks along The Esplanade.

Insp James said the boy was “very happy” to see his family who were also very relieved he was safe.

“We believe he didn’t talk to anyone and we believe he just kept scootering on the Esplanade,” she said.

It is believed the boy did not realise how far he had gone or that he had been away from his parents for such a long period of time.

Gold Coast Police searching for 8-year-old boy who went missing at Burleigh Heads

“He is eight so he did scooter for quite awhile so I imagine he will have a very good sleep tonight,” Insp James said.

As for how the scooter coped with the big adventure, Insp James said: “It’s getting some mileage up, let me say that.”

A CCTV image of the boy taken the morning he went missing.

Insp James said it was a joint effort of the community to see the missing boy returned safe and well.

“I think it’s a fantastic example how the community can work together … we have an instance like this where we can all work together and find a young boy missing.”

A grainy CCTV image of the boy on the running path on Wednesday morning was released by police as a part of efforts to find the boy.

Gold Coast Police searching for 8-year-old boy who went missing at Burleigh Heads

The statement said he was riding an orange scooter and wearing a black helmet.

A Surf Lifesaving Queensland Gold Coast supervisor said a number of lifesavers also joined the search for the boy.

“The Westpac helicopter has done a fly around,” he said.

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