Search for missing toddler in crocodile habitat enters third day

There are now major concerns for the safety of a toddler who has been missing for two nights in crocodile-infested far north Queensland.

A frantic search for a toddler missing for two nights on an isolated property in crocodile-infested far north Queensland has continued today.

Ruben, 2, was last seen near the Koolatah Station homestead, 270km north of Karumba on the western side of Cape York Peninsula, about 5pm on Tuesday.

Before the young boy went missing he was playing with a puppy in a garage on the cattle station’s property, according to the ABC.

The search, which is in its third day, is using emergency crews, including cattle station crews and graziers with a number of private mustering helicopters and planes. Carloads of neighbours have also arrived to assist in the search.

SES regional director Wayne Coutts said there was “a lot of water in the immediate area where he went missing”.

“Lots of people and lots of resources covered the primary area, which is 2km around from where he was last seen, but it was definitely expanded out from that as well with no result.

“The conditions are obviously good for searching. They’re probably not fantastic for the young child, especially overnight with the cooler temperatures.”

The search team was forced to suspend its rescue operation on the 170,000ha property at dusk yesterday, having failed to find any sign of the boy in the dense scrub and rugged terrain.

A further six SES rescue personnel are en route to join the team today.

Ruben Scott, 2, pictured mum Natasha.

“It’s been another long night,” Cape Patrol Inspector Mark Henderson said on Thursday morning.

“We have a large number of resources here, we have about seven helicopters, we have a myriad of SES staff and their resources including a … drone which we’ve been flying over again in the early hours of this morning.

About 20 people from neighbouring properties have joined the search, including “about three carloads” that arrived last night to help look for Ruben.

“We are throwing everything at this. It is now in excess of 40 hours so it does make the challenge a bit harder, and as we speak we have some light rain starting to fall, so that will make our day difficult,” Insp Henderson said.

Officers were to retain a presence at the scene on Wednesday evening and recommenced the search at first light on Thursday, Queensland police said in a statement.

Searches for today are planned on foot and in vehicles, and private helicopters, drones, and police divers will also assist, police said.

Police divers have also joined the search for the missing toddler, who went missing from the homestead, which backs onto a crocodile-infested lagoon.

“Come home baby please Aunty Reesey misses you we all miss you,” his aunt Cherese Scott wrote on Facebook on Wednesday.

The search for Ruben will resume today.

Ruben has been missing since Tuesday.

The large property he disappeared form is a known crocodile habitat.

Hours earlier Ms Scott urged anyone with information to contact police. “We want our Ruby home safe and sound,” she added.

The little boy only recently turned two.

His mum, Natasha Scott, said her son is the “greatest person ever”. “Life’s complete with you and your smile,” she wrote alongside a picture of the smiling little boy in July.

Family, station employees and workers from neighbouring stations began looking for the little boy on Tuesday and called police around nightfall when they couldn’t find him.

They continued searching through Tuesday night and were joined on Wednesday by State Emergency Services personnel, rangers and workers from a construction site in Kowanyama.

Helicopters from neighbouring stations were also involved.