South Australian police have called off another major search effort for four-year-old Gus Lamont, who vanished from his family's remote property in the state's arid outback.
The latest operation, which focused on inspecting a series of disused mine shafts, failed to uncover any new evidence related to the boy's disappearance, deepening the mystery that has gripped the nation.
Exhaustive Mine Shaft Search Concludes
Officers from the STAR Group and Task Force Horizon spearheaded the search, targeting six mine shafts located between 5.5km and 12km from the Lamont family's homestead at Oak Park station. The sites were initially identified through detailed aerial mapping.
According to police, the conditions varied dramatically between shafts. Some were shallow enough for officers to conduct a visual inspection, while others required specialists to scale down more than 20 metres using specialised equipment.
Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams stated that the operation's goal was to either uncover crucial evidence or definitively rule out the shafts as a potential location. The search was planned to last three days but was called off after just one day when it became clear no new clues would be found.
One of SA's Largest Search Operations
Gus Lamont disappeared on September 27 while playing outside his family's home on the 6,000-hectare Oak Park Station near Yunta. His vanishing act triggered one of the most extensive ground searches in South Australia's history.
Search crews have faced immense challenges, combing through 470 square kilometres of rugged, dry terrain and battling scorching heat. In their thorough efforts, they have even drained a dam on the property.
Despite this massive undertaking, the only clue discovered so far remains a single footprint found in the days following his disappearance. Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has publicly acknowledged the case's difficulty, noting there are “lots of places a small child might find themselves which are hard to identify.”
The Mystery Deepens as Investigation Continues
With the latest search yielding no results, authorities are no closer to understanding what happened to Gus. The primary theory remains that the young boy wandered off into the vast, harsh landscape.
Given the property's extremely dry and arid conditions, with no accessible source of water, food, or shelter, police have admitted that the chances of survival are considered slim.
The Lamont family has been updated on the recent results and continues to receive support from authorities. Task Force Horizon has not ruled out returning to the property as the investigation remains active.
Gus is described as having long curly blond hair. He was last seen wearing a blue long-sleeved Minions T-shirt, a grey sun hat, and boots. Police are urging anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward.
