A volunteer who dedicated several days to searching for a missing four-year-old boy at an Outback sheep station in South Australia believes the child may not be there at all.
Jason O’Connell, who has a history of 11 years as a State Emergency Service (SES) member, and his partner Jen, travelled over 1,200km to find August ‘Gus’ Lamont on his family’s property located about 40km from Yunta.
Alongside other search teams, the duo began their search mission last Sunday. Despite tirelessly scanning the red desert around the clock for more than 90 hours, they were unable to locate any traces of the boy.
‘Jen and I were the only ones out during the nights, apart from Monday night when the father joined, and we would leave when the main search teams arrived each day,’ Jason shared on social media.
He described their night searches, suggesting the boy might move during cooler temperatures or when flies are less bothersome. They used powerful lights to sweep the flat, empty landscape and listened for foxes while watching for any ‘birds of prey’ flying overhead.
‘Nothing. I personally am very doubtful he is on the property.’
Gus was last seen playing in a mound of dirt near his grandparent’s homestead about 5pm on Saturday, September 27.
He had vanished by the time his grandmother went to call him in some 30 minutes later.
Jason O’Connell and his partner Jen (above) spent 90 hours searching for missing Gus Lamont
August ‘Gus’ Lamont was last seen on Saturday, September 27 at his grandparent’s property about 40km south of Yunta
Dozens of police, SES, army personnel and volunteers scoured the outback property
In the days since, hundreds of participants, including the police, SES volunteers, and members of the Australian Defence Force, have combed through the nearby areas.
The boy had been wearing a grey broad-brimmed hat, a distinctive blue long-sleeved shirt with a Minion picture from the movie Despicable Me on the front, with light grey pants and boots.
But despite their best efforts, the only trace of Gus found was a single footprint discovered about 500 metres from the homestead – which police have since cast doubt on.
Local tracker Aaron Stuart told the media it was very unusual to find one footprint as you would usually find ‘tracks’.
On Thursday, Yorke Mid North Superintendent Mark Syrus admitted the odds of survival were fading fast without food, water or shelter.
‘A four-year-old doesn’t disappear into thin air; he has to be somewhere,’ Supt Syrus said. ‘Hopefully he’s hanging in there alive … [but] it’s a long time to be out in the elements.
‘We always believe Gus is a tough little country lad. He may be curled up under a bush somewhere, and we’re determined to find him.’
Police threw everything at the search for Gus, including specialist divers to check water tanks and dams, infrared cameras, dogs, ATVs, and drones.
Gus was last seen at his grandparents’ remote sheep station (pictured)
But all that effort drew to an end on Friday when searchers packed up their gear and left the property.
Now the only sign that remains of the tragedy is a few forgotten knots of police tape tied on the station’s gates.
‘We’ve all been hoping for a miracle, but that miracle has not eventuated,’ Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott said on on Friday.
‘At this point, no trace of Gus has been located. No tangible pieces of evidence, such as footprints, a hat or clothing, have been located to identify any direction of travel to assist searchers.
‘Despite our best efforts, we have not been able to locate him, and, unfortunately, we are now having to scale back this search for Gus.’
Police have handed the investigation over to the missing persons section after admitting the rescue mission had likely become one of recovery.
‘The investigation will now be managed by the missing persons investigation section,’ South Australia Police said in a statement.
‘This is where all long-term cases such as this are managed and investigated, and is standard practice.’
Dams on the property were also searched but there has been no trace of the boy
A footprint that police said might have been left by Gus was found, but just the one
Police do not believe a third party took Gus due to the remote nature of the homestead, which sits more than 25km from the highway.
Gus’ family have described the four-year-old as a shy but adventurous child. While he is known to be a good walker, he has never previously left his family property.
On Saturday, Leave A Light on Inc called on South Australians to leave their front door porch lights on so Gus could ‘find his way home’.
Investigations are ongoing.
