Search of disused mineshafts fails to uncover evidence of missing boy Gus

Latest search ends with no answers

A renewed police operation to find missing South Australian boy Gus Lamont has concluded without discovering any evidence linked to the four-year-old. Officers examined multiple disused mine shafts in the state’s outback but reported that the effort did not produce any clues to assist the investigation.

Background to Gus’s disappearance

Gus disappeared from his family’s remote sheep station at Oak Park in outback South Australia on 27 September, when he was four years old. He was last seen playing in the sand near the homestead in the late afternoon before an extensive search operation was launched.

Details of the renewed mine shaft search

The most recent search focused on six uncovered and unfenced mine shafts located between about 5.5 km and 12 km from the Lamont family home. Investigators also checked several additional locations identified through aerial mapping and imaging carried out after earlier ground searches.

Police said the inspection of the mine shafts did not locate any evidence that would help explain Gus’s disappearance. Some shafts were shallow enough to be inspected visually, while others required officers to descend more than 20 metres using specialist equipment.

Scale of earlier search efforts

This was the fourth major search effort for Gus, nearly two months after he went missing. Previous operations included draining over three million litres of water from a dam and conducting extensive ground and air searches across the surrounding landscape.

Authorities, including police, defence personnel, trackers, volunteers and rescue teams, have combed an area of roughly 95 square kilometres around the property. Despite the scope of the effort, no trace of the child has been found so far.

Ongoing investigation and family support

Police state that there is currently no evidence of foul play in relation to Gus’s disappearance. Task Force Horizon remains in charge of the investigation and has not ruled out returning to search certain areas again if new information emerges.

Officers say Gus’s family have been fully cooperative throughout, and they are being supported by a dedicated victim contact officer. Investigators emphasise that all potential leads continue to be assessed in an effort to provide answers for the family and community.

“The inspection of the mine shafts … did not uncover any evidence to aid in the investigation of Gus’ disappearance,” police said in a public statement.

Author’s summary

The story outlines extensive but so far fruitless searches of remote mine shafts and surrounding outback for missing four-year-old Gus, underscoring both police persistence and the family’s ongoing uncertainty.

9News on MSN — 2025-11-26