Boy escapes ‘dishevelled’ man during city cricket game: police

A young boy has escaped an alleged abduction attempt during an inner city cricket game at a busy park.

A manhunt is underway after a 12-year-old boy escaped a terrifying alleged abduction attempt during a cricket game in Adelaide's CBD.

Police were called to South Terrace shortly after 9am on Saturday after reports the boy had been approached by an unknown man.

The boy was able to get away from the man and raised the alarm with nearby adults at the park south of the city centre.

Police searched the area but were unable to find the suspect. Picture; Nine

The boy’s father described the ordeal as an attempted abduction to Nine News, with witnesses stating the boy had been “really scared”.

“He was brave, I would say. He just took off and ran away and came and told us what had happened,” a witness told Nine News.

The boy was attending a cricket game nearby to a local playground. Picture: Nine

“It’s the last thing on your mind, kids are playing, it’s such a safe area … You can’t even imagine that something like this would happen.”

The boy had reportedly been at the grounds for a school cricket game when he left unattended to use a bathroom nearby to a playground.

At the time, the boy had reportedly left to use the bathroom. Picture: Nine News

In a statement, police said officers including police dogs Edge and Duke, searched the parklands but were unable to locate the suspect.

They described the man as being caucasian, with an orange beard, orange/ brown dirty straight hair in a mullet style and dishevelled looking.

Anyone with information that may assist is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au.