The family of a missing four-year-old in the Outback is being hounded by malicious online trolls who are spreading conspiracy theories. A friend has urged these individuals to cease their actions.
August ‘Gus’ Lamont was last spotted on September 27, playing in a dirt mound close to his grandparents’ home on a sheep station about 40km from Yunta.
Fleur Tiver, 66, said the tight-knit community in eastern South Australia still hopes Gus is hiding on the property.
Her ancestors have lived on a station alongside the Lamonts since the late 1800s.
News of Gus’s disappearance prompted Ms Tiver to leave her home in the Adelaide Hills and return to the rural area to assist in the search.
In spite of the family’s best efforts to stay hopeful, police gave up on the search on Friday.
That heartache has only been multiplied by an onslaught of vile conspiracy theorists falsely claiming Gus’ loved ones are responsible for foul play.
“This family would never hurt this child, even if faced with the end of the world, which is what it feels like for them now,” Ms. Tiver stated to the Adelaide Advertiser.
August ‘Gus’ Lamont (pictured) was last seen at his grandparents’ homestead on September 27
Police called off the widespread search for the four-year-old on Friday (pictured, searchers at the scene)
Police don’t believe Gus was taken by a third party due to the remote nature of the property (marked on the map above)
“They could not have hurt this child. It’s sad to see people guessing what happened because it causes the family more grief, but I understand the urge to find answers in uncertain situations, even if those speculations hold no truth.”
Ms Tiver said she knew the Lamont family ‘well’ and described them as ‘kind’, ‘gentle’, ‘reliable’, ‘trustworthy’, and ‘truthful’.
‘They embody everything about humans that can be good,’ she said.
Police began searching the 60,000ha property shortly after Gus disappeared at about 5pm on September 27.
When August vanished, he wore a grey broad-brimmed hat, a blue long-sleeved shirt featuring a Minion from Despicable Me, light grey pants, and boots.
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.
“We hope he’s surviving out there, but we have shifted to a recovery phase. It’s been over 100 hours and six days, which is a long duration to endure outside in those conditions.”
‘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.’
Family friend Fleur Tiver said Gus’ loved ones have been heartbroken by theories they harmed him (pictured, search party at the scene)
Yorke Mid North Superintendent Mark Syrus (pictured) hoped Gus could still be found alive
Police threw everything at the search for Gus, including specialist divers to check water tanks and dams, infrared cameras, dogs, ATVs, and drones.
But all that effort came 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 do not believe a third party took Gus due to the remote nature of the homestead, which sits more than 25km from the highway.
Ms Tiver hopes Gus has ‘got into a little creek down under a bush and has just hidden there’.
A family friend hopes Gus has ‘got into a little creek down under a bush and has just hidden there’ (pictured, the homestead)
Family friend Bill Harbison (pictured) said Gus’ family is ‘holding onto hope that he will be found and returned safely’
Family friend Bill Harbison read a statement on behalf of Gus’s family on Tuesday.
‘This has come as a shock to our family and friends, and we are struggling to comprehend what has happened,’ it read.
‘Gus’ absence is felt in all of us and we miss him more than words can express.
‘Our hearts are aching, and we are holding onto hope that he will be found and returned to us safely.
‘At this time, we kindly ask for privacy as we focus all our energy on supporting the search and working closely with the police.’
