The large-scale search for missing South Australian boy August “Gus” Lamont has ended with no evidence he is on the remote property where he disappeared more than a week ago.
Police have confirmed the multi-agency operation near Yunta, in the state’s mid-north, has now been suspended after nine days of land and water searches covering roughly 60 square kilometres. The investigation has been handed back to South Australia Police.
Former SES volunteer Jason O’Connell, who joined the search with the approval of police, told 7NEWS he walked the entire property alongside Gus’s father and found no sign of the missing four-year-old.
“My heart breaks for [the father],” O’Connell said. “It’s been searched. (Gus) is not there.”
Gus was last seen about 5pm on September 27 playing on a mound of dirt outside his grandmother’s homestead. When she went to call him inside 30 minutes later, he was missing.
Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott said the child was known to be “shy but adventurous” and had never previously wandered from the family’s sheep station.
“While a good walker, he has never left the family property previously,” Parrott said.
As police ruled out animal attack theories, O’Connell said speculation circulating online had caused distress to the family.
“Wedgetail eagles will pick up one or two kilos – they’re not going to pick up a four-year-old,” he said. “There’s no pigs, there’s no wild dogs, there’s no foxes.”
The operation involved up to 30 SES volunteers each day and 50 Australian Defence Force personnel over two days, supported by specialist police units. Despite extensive efforts, no clothing, footprints or personal items were located.
Last week, police informed the family that the search had shifted to a recovery phase, citing the length of time since Gus went missing, his age, and the harsh terrain.
“We are confident that we have done all we can to locate Gus within the search area,” Parrott said.
Police say the investigation will continue, with all evidence from the search now being re-examined.
“He’s a little tacker – you don’t want to leave him out there,” O’Connell said.
Images: 7 NEWS, SA Police
