A survivalist has claimed a little boy who vanished from his family’s sprawling sheep station five days ago may still be alive because of his upbringing on a farm.
The frantic search continues for four-year-old August Lamont, also known as Gus, who was last seen playing in sand near the remote property, roughly 40km south of Yunta in South Australia‘s Mid North, at about 5pm on Saturday.
A specialist tracker and Australian Defence personnel have been deployed after a child’s footprint discovered 500m from the property’s homestead sparked renewed hope.
Survivalist and Alone Australia Season one runner-up Michael Atkinson believes Gus is still alive and urged emergency responders to continue the search until the boy is found.
The former ADF pilot pointed out that, having grown up on the property, Gus would be comfortable in his surroundings, adding that farm kids are often more resilient.
‘The kid’s background is a hugely important factor, in some ways being young is actually an advantage because you don’t realise the seriousness,’ Atkinson told the Adelaide Advertiser.
Gus was last seen wearing a grey broad-brimmed hat, blue long-sleeved shirt with a Minion picture from the film Despicable Me on the front, light grey pants, and boots.
This would have helped protect him from the elements in recent days, according to Atkinson.
The desperate search continues for four-year-old Gus, who’s been missing since Saturday
Survivalist and Alone Australia Season one runner-up Michael Atkinson believes little Gus is still alive
A specialist tracker was called in after a child’s footprint (pictured) was discovered 500m from the homestead on Wednesday
‘Having a hat is important, as it keeps your head warm and, if you look at the time of year, it is probably the best time of year as it’s not too hot or cold,’ Atkinson said.
He said Gus would be able to survive without water at this time of year, adding that many have gone much longer.
‘Robert Bogucki went 12 days with no water in Broome, so dehydration-wise he (Gus) wouldn’t be doing it at a fast rate compared to other times of year,’ he said.
Atkinson urged authorities to continue aerial patrols every night.
‘He could be hiding under a bush not seen from one angle, but he could be captured from another,’ he said.
A footprint was discovered 500m from the property’s homestead on Wednesday, which police positively identified as being from a child.
‘It’s a very similar boot pattern to what Gus was wearing when he went missing,’ Superintendent Mark Syrus said.
A skilled tracker was brought in to follow the footprint trail, which Atkinson said would be invaluable to the search.
Police are working on the theory that Gus wandered off from the property
Dozens of Australian Defence personnel will join the search on Thursday morning
The search for Gus entered its sixth day on Thursday
Almost 50 Australian defence personnel will arrive on Thursday morning to join the search.
‘Gus has been gone for now over six days, so we still hold out hope we’re going to find him,’ Supt Syrus told Sunrise on Thursday.
Police are still working on the theory that Gus likely wandered off.
They do not believe Gus has been taken, as the only people who would travel on the nearby road are station owners.
‘The property is very isolated; you have to go through six gates to actually get to the station,’ Supt Syrus said.
‘We’re focusing our efforts that he’s wandered off from the front yard.’
The specialist tracker spent all day Wednesday scouring for more footprints.
‘He covered a lot of ground but, unfortunately, just from that one track, he couldn’t find any indication of any other tracks in the area, which he said was unusual,’ Supt Syrus said.
Police continue to search a 3km radius from Gus’s last known whereabouts.
‘Yesterday afternoon, we had another review of our search and we’ve actually gone back to the property and searched it now for the third time, just in case he’s secreted or hiding somewhere around the property,’ Supt Syrus said.
‘Unfortunately nothing turned up.
‘So today, we’re continuing the search around the area and hopefully we’ll find a clue, a hat or something that might give us an idea of which direction he travelled in.’
South Australia Police have not released photos of Gus, as per his family’s wishes.
Anyone with information that may assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
