Police scour river, streets for missing four-year-old

Police divers spent about five hours scouring the Turanganui River as part of the hunt for little Lucas. Photo / Alan Gibson

The frantic mother of a Gisborne preschooler was last night clinging to the hope her boy is alive, more than 40 hours after the youngster vanished.

All Jessica Ward knows is that 4-year-old Lucas Ward wandered off from the home of his grandparents Anne-Marie and Mark Hunt on Tuesday afternoon. From there, the trail has gone cold.

The 30-year-old beauty therapist was yesterday walking around "like a stunned mullet" as a police dive team spent about five hours scouring the Waimata River, which runs behind her parents' Graham Rd house.

The police dive squad was this morning resuming it search of the river as well as the riverbank and surrounding streets.

Mrs Ward spoke to the Herald yesterday, describing Lucas as very friendly.

He was, she said, "an inquisitive child who will talk to strangers ... almost over-friendly, a very happy little boy".

He was known to wander off on his own, and had done so the day before when he came upon a woman walking with a dog.

"But he normally comes back. You'll call out and he'll say, 'I'm here'. But next thing we know it's turned into 24 hours and he's still missing."

Police are keeping an open mind about Lucas' disappearance and Ms Ward had a message for anyone who might know where he is: "You won't be in trouble. Just bring him back."

On Tuesday, Anne-Marie Hunt searched her own and neighbouring properties after Lucas disappeared about 3.30pm, and finally called the police about 45 minutes later.

Ms Ward - who also has an 8-year-old son, Alex, and is separated from her boys' father - said her mother had picked Lucas up from her Grey St home about 2.30pm and taken him into town.

The pair returned to Mrs Hunt's home about half an hour later.

The preschooler - who attends the Victoria Childcare and Education Centre part-time - was given a packet of chips and played outside as Mrs Hunt unloaded groceries from her car.

She then went inside to answer the phone, and when she returned minutes later, Lucas had gone.

Neighbour Theresa Reed was one of the first on the scene.

"It was pretty horrible. She was so distraught. It was absolutely gut-wrenching. You really feel for the whole family ...

"He could be anywhere. It's like looking for a needle in a haystack," Mrs Reed said.

She hoped Lucas' fear of water had kept him away from the river.

Yesterday, police made door-to-door inquiries, search and rescue teams combed the suburb of Kaiti, and members of the public handed out pamphlets.

Investigators said there had been five sightings of little boys in the area around the time Lucas went missing, but no positive sightings.

By late yesterday afternoon, Inspector Sam Aberahama admitted that police were "increasingly concerned" for Lucas, and urged residents to check their properties.

"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, search those sheds, garages, boats and other places that kids can crawl into," Mr Aberahama said.

"He could be hurt, he could be in a situation where he's unable to move. We need to consider all options."

Mr Aberahama said it was also vital that police received more information about some sightings of children - including a young boy matching Lucas' description - between 3pm and shortly after 5.30pm in Kaiti yesterday.

The inspector praised the "overwhelming" response from the Gisborne community.

"We have been inundated with offers of help to search and assist in a variety of ways. The community has really rallied on this and Lucas' family is really appreciative."

News of Lucas' disappearance has brought back sad memories for the family of 2-year-old West Auckland girl Aisling Symes, who drowned after being swept down a stormwater drain near her late grandparents' Henderson home last year.

The family are holidaying in Britain, but Aisling's father, Alan Symes, told the Herald his thoughts were with Lucas' family.

"We offer our support to their family. We know exactly how they are feeling. Our thoughts and prayers are with them."

Mr Symes said he wished for "the right outcome" in the hunt for Lucas.

"It's a terrible thing," he said.

The Symes family are on their way to Mr Symes' native Ireland, where they will join relatives before the first anniversary of Aisling's death, on October 5.

* Anyone with information about Lucas should call Gisborne police on (06) 869-0200.