Sometimes it's hard for city folk to appreciate about the way of life for those living on enormous properties like this - they are very isolated, a LONG way from help, and as such are used to being self-sufficient in most situations.
The kid goes missing, well, he's only little and he can't have gone too far. We know he's on the property close by, we're just not sure where. We'd better go out and find him before it gets dark instead of waiting around for an hour or more for external help to arrive.
As it happens, they searched the property for three solid hours before admitting defeat and calling in help. I imagine they kept thinking they were sure to find him any at moment.
I get what you’re saying, and I don’t doubt people out there are used to being self-sufficient. But even on big properties, there’s a difference between being capable and being complacent. Once the sun’s gone it gets cold, it gets dark, and it happens faster than you think. I’ve worked on remote mine sites across SA, NT, QLD and NSW, and you develop a real appreciation for just how unforgiving it becomes after dark.
In fact, people might be surprised that a lot of rural property owners also work in the mines. My experience is that they’re some of the most conscientious and hardworking people you’ll ever meet. These are practical, capable people who don’t take unnecessary risks. They understand conditions and act early when things start to turn. That’s what makes this delay so difficult to square.
On 27 September the sun set in Yunta at 6:11 pm. By 6:40 pm it was dark, and by 7:10 pm it was full night. At 5:30 pm it was around 22°C, but by 8:30 pm it had dropped to about 12°C and kept falling. So by the time police were called, they’d already spent two and a half hours searching in near total darkness.
I understand the idea that they thought he couldn’t have gone far, but that thinking only holds up if you find him within minutes, not hours. And let’s not forget, Gus is four. He can’t self-rescue, he can’t problem-solve, and he can’t navigate back in the dark. Every minute that passes in those conditions makes the situation more dangerous.
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