Police 'increasingly concerned' about missing boy

Four-year-old Lucas Ward. Photo / Supplied

Police say they are 'increasingly concerned' about the wellbeing of four-year-old Lucas Ward, who went missing from a home in the Gisborne suburb of Inner Kaiti yesterday afternoon.

"We are increasingly concerned about Lucas and his wellbeing," said Inspector Sam Aberahama, Gisborne area commander, in a press release put out this evening.

"We're urging all residents, especially those in the Kaiti area, to check their properties for signs of Lucas.

"There are many places small and inquisitive children can explore and unwittingly become lost, injured or stuck. We're asking people to have a good look around their sections and search those sheds, garages, boats and other places that kids crawl into."

Possible sightings

Mr Aberahama said it was vital that police get more information about several possible sightings of Lucas.

Lucas was last seen at his grandmother's house on Graham Road at 3pm. At 3.25pm, two boys aged approximately eight and four were seen on
the corner of Graham Road and Marian Drive. The younger boy had fair hair, as does Lucas.

At 4.15pm, a young boy wearing a green t-shirt was seen walking on Delatour Road towards Owens Road. A woman spoke to him and gave him a "hi five". She didn't know the boy, and police want to know if it was Lucas or someone else.

At 4.30pm a boy fitting Lucas' description was seen in Martin Park on
Tyndall Road near Hudson Street, and at 5.30pm or soon after someone in a car stopped and told a search and rescue staff member that they saw a boy who could be Lucas in the Tui and Kara Road area. Police would like this person to contact them.

Earlier this afternoon, police thanked the public for "overwhelming" offers of volunteer assistance, but said the search is currently well-staffed with volunteers.

Search resumed at first light

The search for Lucas Ward was resumed at first light this morning and the police dive squad has been called in to search a nearby river.

Lucas was being looked after by his grandmother at a Graham Rd home in Inner Kaiti when he went missing at about 3pm yesterday.

Mr Aberahama said Lucas had been "known to wander off".

"As recently as Monday, he had left his grandmother's property and met up with a woman down the street who was walking her dog," he said.

"Lucas' grandmother was briefly distracted and when she went to look for Lucas, he had disappeared," Mr Aberahama said.

He said Lucas' grandmother did a search of her property and others nearby before calling police at 4.15pm.

"We are keeping an open mind as to where Lucas may have wandered off to. Police staff will be going door-to-door in the area again this morning and residents will be asked to search their houses and their properties," Mr Aberahama said.

He said Lucas' family were very upset by his disappearance.

"This is a very difficult time for them and they are gathering together as a family for support. We will be doing everything we can to find Lucas for them," Mr Aberahama said.

He said police would be following up on two reported sightings of Lucas in the Graham Rd area yesterday afternoon.

"Lucas had apparently been seen alone in the area," Mr Aberahama said.

The official search - which included police, members of the Fire Service, the Coast Guard and Maori wardens - was called off about 10pm yesterday.

But family members continued their hunt into the night.

The search area included Turanganui River, which is near the family home.

Family distraught

Senior Sergeant Mick Lander, of Gisborne police, said last night that Lucas' family called police.

"It was just an unfortunate event, where they've just turned around and he just wasn't there."

Mr Lander said Lucas' parents were distraught and members of the family, friends and people in the community were still searching late last night even after the official search was called off.

"There's still people out there walking on the streets looking for him," Mr Lander said.

"It's affecting everybody."

Lucas is Pakeha and has blond hair. He was last seen wearing a light blue sweatshirt, track pants and had bare feet.

Mr Lander said the search team had not found any sign or object to indicate that Lucas had been in the area and were not ruling out other possibilities regarding his disappearance.

* Any information - Gisborne police: (06) 869 0200.

- With NZHerald staff