Six days after going missing, two little boys have been discovered to be healthy and unharmed.
Last Tuesday at 5:15 p.m., David Woodforde, age 9, and his brother Peter, age 12, were last seen leaving their Christies Beach house in Adelaide’s south on their dark-colored bicycles.
The boys’ disappearance was reported to South Australia Police that evening, but they didn’t issue a public appeal until five days later, on Sunday.
Due to the boys’ young ages, police were worried about their wellbeing, but there was no cause to suspect any wrongdoing.
Police have been looking for the kids missing five days and had exhausted all other leads before posting their images online, according to a statement.
On Monday morning, they announced that the two boys had been found with a family member and were safe and sound.
SA Police and the Department for Child Protection have been collaborating closely.
According to a spokesman, “the Department for Child Protection works closely with families, government and non-government partners, including SA Police,” to ensure the protection of children and young people who are at danger.
Before the youngsters were located, the police request for their whereabouts had been shared more than 6,200 times.
The public was previously requested to pray for the boys’ safety by a family of the lads, who also questioned why it took police five days to issue an alarm.
The locals were equally anxious.
One told Seven News, “To be away for that long and not hear anything, is not good.”
I have small boys myself, so hearing that they simply left to go riding and vanish isn’t the nicest thing to hear, another person said.