SA Police to drain dam as third search near Yunta launched for missing four-year-old Gus Lamont
A 4.5m-deep dam, already searched by police divers, will be drained today in a third search for missing four-year-old boy Gus Lamont in Outback SA.
Search crews have arrived at Oak Park Station in the state’s remote northeast to drain a dam in the third desperate search for four-year-old Gus Lamont.
Police and State Emergency Service volunteers will be on the ground at the property from early this morning to drain the dam, located 600m from the homestead on Gus’s grandparents property where he went missing on September 27.
The Advertiser understands about 5 million litres of water will be pumped out of the dam, with hopes it would be completed on Friday.
SA Police’s Water Operations unit arrived in Yunta on Thursday in preparation for the fresh search.
SA Police said the 4.5m-deep dam was previously searched by divers in the initial days of the search for Gus but the move to drain the water will enable a comprehensive visual search to be completed.
While no new intel had been revealed, police say the renewed search of the dam is being undertaken to rule out the possibility Gus may have drowned.
Two previous search operations turned up no physical evidence connected to Gus’ disappearance.
SA Police said on Thursday draining the dam this time would enable “a comprehensive visual search to be completed, particularly with areas with underwater vegetation”.
August – affectionately known as Gus – was last seen at 5pm playing outside his family’s homestead Oak Park Station, 43km south of Yunta, on Saturday, September 27.
So far, SA Police, Australian Defence Force personnel, SES volunteers, trackers and local property owners have scoured the dusty land covered in low shrub.
Polair, drones, infra-red technology and satellite technology have been used to support the ground search.
Investigators have now concluded assessing the data and imagery of the terrain surrounding the homestead taken using a drone.
That imagery did not identify any object of significance that could assist with the search for the four-year-old.
Further aerial imaging of the area, to 10km from the homestead, is still being conducted.
It is done in stages and is expected to take several weeks to complete.
Police suspended the initial ground search on October 3 after authorities combed more than 47,000ha of land.
More than a week later, police declared a new task force, called Horizon, had been created in an effort to locate Gus.
They also announced the search for Gus would resume, in an area outside of the original search zone about 5.5km from the homestead and covered 95 sqkm on foot.
The search was impeded by heat and strong winds as crews began at sunrise and concluded early due to the conditions.
That operation concluded on October 17 with no sign of the four-year-old.
Police say Task Force Horizon is continuing to conduct “multiple lines of inquiry” to locate Gus and further searches of the property will be considered.
They have not uncovered any evidence of foul play in the disappearance.
Originally published as SA Police to drain dam as third search near Yunta launched for missing four-year-old Gus Lamont
