🔗 Share this article

Australia's police have called off the hunt for a young boy who has been missing in the outback for approximately several weeks, after renewed operations failed to locate any traces of the youngster.

Timeline of Incidents

The child was spotted enjoying himself around his family property on a isolated rural property near Yunta, about a significant distance from Adelaide, on late September.

His family member stepped away for about thirty minutes before returning, only to realize the boy gone, triggering one of the largest ground and aerial missions in local history.

Current Status

Police - who do not suspect criminal activity - say they will continue examining, but that the situation has become a "recovery operation".

Last week, authorities briefly reduced the operation, only to recommence it on recently alongside numerous military staff.

"Commissioner Grant Stevens said officials were looking a wider zone based on new assessments from survival and operation experts, rather than any recent developments."

Mission Difficulties

On Friday, police confirmed that the recent hunt had not uncovered any signs of the child.

"The situation that Gus is a young child, the environment is very rugged, challenging and affected by unpredictable weather conditions has made the searching challenging and more challenging for those participating," authorities said in a statement.

About 470 square kilometers - an area about double the size of a major city - has now been scanned, and a 12-person unit set up lately is expected to continue investigating. Officials have not excluded more missions of the area in the future.

Description and Public Reaction

The boy, who has been portrayed as an curious but reserved child, was spotted wearing a gray headwear, light-colored long pants, footwear and a navy full-sleeve top showing a bright cartoon design.

The situation has provoked huge concern across Australia, with pictures of the light-haired, curly-headed boy featured across publications and speculation running rife on the internet.

It prompted authorities to appeal that members of the public stop phoning them with their "opinions", and appeal for them to source updates from trustworthy channels.

Loved Ones Reaction

Police earlier this week said the child's loved ones remain "resilient" despite the difficult situation.

"One can understand just how they are coping... without having answers as to exactly where Gus is and what's occurred to him. This would be heartbreaking for every families," Spokesperson the commissioner said.

Via a family representative, the Lamont family has earlier said they are "heartbroken" by Gus's loss.

"This constitutes a shock to our family and friends, and we are finding it difficult to comprehend what has transpired," a family representative said.

"The child's disappearance is felt in each family member, and we yearn for him exceeding expressions can express."