Police have provided an unsettling update regarding the search for four-year-old Gus Lamont, who went missing from his grandparents’ residence in South Australia. Authorities have disclosed that they will be exploring several remote mine shafts in the ongoing efforts to locate the boy, who disappeared two months ago from a remote sheep station in the South Australian outback.
The search operation, which involves police, soldiers, SES crews, divers, and local residents, is set to span up to three days. Specialized equipment will be utilized to investigate six previously undiscovered mine shafts situated between 5.5km and 12km from the property where Gus was last seen in Oak Park.
South Australia Police have indicated that these shafts were not previously searched on foot by law enforcement and were unknown to them. Deputy Commissioner of Police Linda Williams stated, “We are committed to exploring all avenues to find Gus Lamont and bring closure to his family.”
The objective of these search efforts is to either find evidence or rule out these locations from further investigation by the Task Force. Authorities emphasize that this phase of the investigation aims to meticulously scrutinize all potentially relevant sites to aid in the search for Gus.
During the initial days of the search, a local resident expressed concerns that Gus might have fallen into one of the concealed shafts in the area. The resident highlighted the presence of unmarked wells and mines that could pose a risk, emphasizing that some of these sites are not documented on maps.
Following the draining of a large dam on the property on October 31, authorities confirmed that drowning was not a likely scenario for Gus. Extensive ground and aerial searches had been conducted in the vicinity of Oak Park Station since the boy’s disappearance. Previous search operations involved multiple agencies and volunteers, covering significant ground both on foot and with specialized units.
Law enforcement is pursuing various leads to locate Gus, with ongoing support being provided to his family by a victim contact office.