Australia AUSTRALIA - 4YO AUGUST (GUS) Missing from rural family home in Outback, Yunta, South Australia, 27th Sept 2025

[MelmothTheLost]

So the police scaled back the initial search based on medical advice that Gus could not have survived beyond the initial search zone based on the time he had been missing yet are now searching beyond the initial search zone. Is this correct?

Correct. The original search would have been undertaken in the hope of finding him alive. This renewed search is attempting to recover his remains.

 

[Ellery84]

SA Police has announced the formation of Taskforce Horizon – a team dedicated to finding Gus Lamount as the search for the missing four-year-old continues in SA’s Mid North.

SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, earlier today, answered questions relating to why the search has been resumed, who is partaking in the search, and why they’ve ruled out foul play.

Here is the Commissioner’s interview in full.

Watching the video it seems like to me like this is now a recovery mission.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Watching the video it seems like to me like this is now a recovery mission.

It's been a recovery mission since about day 3 or 4.

 

[essareem]

SA Police has announced the formation of Taskforce Horizon – a team dedicated to finding Gus Lamount as the search for the missing four-year-old continues in SA’s Mid North.

SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, earlier today, answered questions relating to why the search has been resumed, who is partaking in the search, and why they’ve ruled out foul play.

Here is the Commissioner’s interview in full.

I can't watch that at the moment - what is the reason for ruling out foul play?

 

[Total_C]

Analysis: Oak Park Station vs the Reported 470 km² Search Area

I’ve been looking more closely at the actual size of Oak Park Station, and the numbers are pretty striking when compared to what Commissioner Grant Stevens said today.

Using PlanSA and LocationSA data, the parcels that appear linked to the Oak Park homestead (all under CT 5959/876) add up to roughly 75–80 square kilometres, around 7,500–8,000 hectares. These cover several adjoining blocks within the Grampus locality. That’s likely the freehold core of the station.

It’s possible Oak Park’s operations extend beyond that under pastoral lease or adjoining land, but this mapped portion matches the homestead area. The southern boundary directly adjoins the Pualco Range Conservation Park, so that would naturally form part of the extended search zone.

Now, police have said the total search area is about 470 square kilometres. If that’s accurate, it equates to a 12.2 km radius from a central point, more than six times larger than the Oak Park titles I could find. Even if the full property is bigger than what’s on record, it’s still a huge footprint for one station.

I’m not an expert in search operations, but from a practical point of view, that’s an enormous area for a four-year-old to have travelled on foot in this terrain. It feels like the search area has expanded well beyond what would be expected for a simple “wander-off” scenario.

A few thoughts that might explain it:

• The 470 km² might be a cumulative figure for multiple ground and air grids over several days.
• The area probably includes neighbouring pastoral leases and conservation land like Pualco Range CP.
• Or, it may reflect the reality that police are keeping all possibilities open, even if they’re not ready to say that outright.

That’s where the Commissioner’s comments start to sound a little contradictory. He said:

“To ensure we leave no stone unturned in our efforts to recover Gus from the property.”

and

“There is no evidence to suggest any other circumstances that may have resulted in Gus not being located, but we also have an obligation to consider all possibilities, and that’s part of our work going forward.”

Both lines are telling. The first seems to confine their focus to the property, while the second quietly acknowledges that other possibilities are being looked at. Yet their actions, a 470 km² search, clearly go beyond a single station boundary.

So while the public message is calm and contained, what’s actually happening on the ground suggests something broader. There’s a definite mismatch between the language and the scale of what’s unfolding, and that’s hard to ignore.

 

[Ellery84]

I can't watch that at the moment - what is the reason for ruling out foul play?

I think it's too early to rule anything out.

 

[Ellery84]

So while the public message is calm and contained, what’s actually happening on the ground suggests something broader. There’s a definite mismatch between the language and the scale of what’s unfolding, and that’s hard to ignore.

Totally! I glad it's not just me that was thinking that.

 

[Ellery84]

So the police scaled back the initial search based on medical advice that Gus could not have survived beyond the initial search zone based on the time he had been missing yet are now searching beyond the initial search zone. Is this correct?

Yes. That's correct.

 

[Ellery84]

Analysis: Oak Park Station vs the Reported 470 km² Search Area

I’ve been looking more closely at the actual size of Oak Park Station, and the numbers are pretty striking when compared to what Commissioner Grant Stevens said today.

Using PlanSA and LocationSA data, the parcels that appear linked to the Oak Park homestead (all under CT 5959/876) add up to roughly 75–80 square kilometres, around 7,500–8,000 hectares. These cover several adjoining blocks within the Grampus locality. That’s likely the freehold core of the station.

It’s possible Oak Park’s operations extend beyond that under pastoral lease or adjoining land, but this mapped portion matches the homestead area. The southern boundary directly adjoins the Pualco Range Conservation Park, so that would naturally form part of the extended search zone.

Now, police have said the total search area is about 470 square kilometres. If that’s accurate, it equates to a 12.2 km radius from a central point, more than six times larger than the Oak Park titles I could find. Even if the full property is bigger than what’s on record, it’s still a huge footprint for one station.

I’m not an expert in search operations, but from a practical point of view, that’s an enormous area for a four-year-old to have travelled on foot in this terrain. It feels like the search area has expanded well beyond what would be expected for a simple “wander-off” scenario.

A few thoughts that might explain it:

• The 470 km² might be a cumulative figure for multiple ground and air grids over several days.
• The area probably includes neighbouring pastoral leases and conservation land like Pualco Range CP.
• Or, it may reflect the reality that police are keeping all possibilities open, even if they’re not ready to say that outright.

That’s where the Commissioner’s comments start to sound a little contradictory. He said:

“To ensure we leave no stone unturned in our efforts to recover Gus from the property.”

and

“There is no evidence to suggest any other circumstances that may have resulted in Gus not being located, but we also have an obligation to consider all possibilities, and that’s part of our work going forward.”

Both lines are telling. The first seems to confine their focus to the property, while the second quietly acknowledges that other possibilities are being looked at. Yet their actions, a 470 km² search, clearly go beyond a single station boundary.

So while the public message is calm and contained, what’s actually happening on the ground suggests something broader. There’s a definite mismatch between the language and the scale of what’s unfolding, and that’s hard to ignore.

View attachment 619807

Maybe they are searching to see if they can find a boot or a hat?

 

[butterstick]

So a 4yo can walk 0.8 to 1.6 km in 30 minutes.

But this is supervised with an adult with them, so they have motivation to walk, and the adult keeps them walking.

Alone it would be far, far less - because a 4yo would amble, have little rests, look at things.

If they do find him many kilometres away, it would astound me that he wasn't found initially. He would have to be one very motivated boy. He'd of had to of been very quick to get out of eye sight of the initial family search. Unless he was fallen or trapped behind a bush or something - in which case, surely he'd still be there, unless he later picked himself up and ignored the calls and kept walking for some unlucky reason.

 

[tedtink]

So a 4yo can walk 0.8 to 1.6 km in 30 minutes.

But this is supervised with an adult with them, so they have motivation to walk, and the adult keeps them walking.

Alone it would be far, far less - because a 4yo would amble, have little rests, look at things.

If they do find him many kilometres away, it would astound me that he wasn't found initially. He would have to be one very motivated boy. He'd of had to of been very quick to get out of eye sight of the initial family search. Unless he was fallen or trapped behind a bush or something - in which case, surely he'd still be there, unless he later picked himself up and ignored the calls and kept walking for some unlucky reason.

Very motivated, walking in a relatively straight line, not doubling back on himself AND during loss of light.
I guess it’s possible, maybe we underestimate his endurance, but I’m still convincing myself he’s closer to home and they’ve missed him somehow.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

They definitely do but most generally also stay near a loved one. Maybe my children have been different but I just find it hard to fathom a 4 year old disappearing into the sunset. IMO

Some kids are runners. They have an urge to run and run and have to be watched closely. Maybe due to a neurodivergence or maybe just because they do. I've known more than one kid like this.

I can't watch that at the moment - what is the reason for ruling out foul play?

I think people are confusing "no evidence of foul play" with ruling it out. Until they know what has happened, they can't rule any possibility out.

 

[Bats]

Analysis: Oak Park Station vs the Reported 470 km² Search Area

I’ve been looking more closely at the actual size of Oak Park Station, and the numbers are pretty striking when compared to what Commissioner Grant Stevens said today.

Using PlanSA and LocationSA data, the parcels that appear linked to the Oak Park homestead (all under CT 5959/876) add up to roughly 75–80 square kilometres, around 7,500–8,000 hectares. These cover several adjoining blocks within the Grampus locality. That’s likely the freehold core of the station.

It’s possible Oak Park’s operations extend beyond that under pastoral lease or adjoining land, but this mapped portion matches the homestead area. The southern boundary directly adjoins the Pualco Range Conservation Park, so that would naturally form part of the extended search zone.

Now, police have said the total search area is about 470 square kilometres. If that’s accurate, it equates to a 12.2 km radius from a central point, more than six times larger than the Oak Park titles I could find. Even if the full property is bigger than what’s on record, it’s still a huge footprint for one station.

I’m not an expert in search operations, but from a practical point of view, that’s an enormous area for a four-year-old to have travelled on foot in this terrain. It feels like the search area has expanded well beyond what would be expected for a simple “wander-off” scenario.

A few thoughts that might explain it:

• The 470 km² might be a cumulative figure for multiple ground and air grids over several days.
• The area probably includes neighbouring pastoral leases and conservation land like Pualco Range CP.
• Or, it may reflect the reality that police are keeping all possibilities open, even if they’re not ready to say that outright.

That’s where the Commissioner’s comments start to sound a little contradictory. He said:

“To ensure we leave no stone unturned in our efforts to recover Gus from the property.”

and

“There is no evidence to suggest any other circumstances that may have resulted in Gus not being located, but we also have an obligation to consider all possibilities, and that’s part of our work going forward.”

Both lines are telling. The first seems to confine their focus to the property, while the second quietly acknowledges that other possibilities are being looked at. Yet their actions, a 470 km² search, clearly go beyond a single station boundary.

So while the public message is calm and contained, what’s actually happening on the ground suggests something broader. There’s a definite mismatch between the language and the scale of what’s unfolding, and that’s hard to ignore.

View attachment 619807

My feeling is that whilst Gus wandering, as you say, 12.2km on one direction, is extremely unlikely, its perhaps not impossible and as the commissioner said, they're leaving no stone unturned.

I also think its fairly obvious that since he is still missing, then they can't rule out foul play, even though there is "nothing to suggest foul play".

 

[MelmothTheLost]

My feeling is that whilst Gus wandering, as you say, 12.2km on one direction, is extremely unlikely, its perhaps not impossible and as the commissioner said, they're leaving no stone unturned.

Looking at photos of the original searchers much earlier in the thread, it was obvious how much their orange vests/jackets stood out against the dull red and dull green of the landscape. I know it was reported that Gus was wearing a blue top, but he would be much easier to see if he was wearing something hi-viz.

Here in the UK, most boys' clothing seems to be black, grey, khaki and camouflage.

 

[musicaljoke]

Looking at photos of the original searchers much earlier in the thread, it was obvious how much their orange vests/jackets stood out against the dull red and dull green of the landscape. I know it was reported that Gus was wearing a blue top, but he would be much easier to see if he was wearing something hi-viz.

Here in the UK, most boys' clothing seems to be black, grey, khaki and camouflage.

I cringe when I see little kids dressed in khaki or camo. I guess most of us believe a lost child could never happen in our family.

 

[FromGermany1]

Thanks for the vid. Sounds like they're moving forward based on the premise that Gus has wandered off. He describes the family as "stoic". That made me pause and reflect a bit.

Does "stoic" possibly mean God-fearing re these people?

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Does "stoic" possibly mean God-fearing re these people?

More "accepting", as in, under no illusions as to the outcome.

 

[FromGermany1]

I think that the difference may be that Gus has never had to fear traffic, strangers, crowded situations on a daily basis.

As a friend of his family said, that property was his back yard.
He likely felt safe and secure there. It can be a safe and secure feeling growing up in the outback.

imo

Maybe, he only knew a drive to his father near Adelaide and some time at father's home, nothing more during his short life?

 

[Leafy]

Very motivated, walking in a relatively straight line, not doubling back on himself AND during loss of light.
I guess it’s possible, maybe we underestimate his endurance, but I’m still convincing myself he’s closer to home and they’ve missed him somehow.

I too think he is closer to home. Though as a kid I was terrified of the dark and would run when dark, like if I had to go outside to get my bike in or anything else, I would just run.

 

[Ellery84]

Does "stoic" possibly mean God-fearing re these people?

No. It means unflinching and brave.