Australians have been outraged after no one stepped in to help a missing boy with Down syndrome and autism who wandered barefoot in a nappy at a busy train station.
Hussein Al Mansoory, 12, disappeared after he was last seen running from Auburn Memorial Park towards the junction of Station Road and Rawson Street, Auburn, in Sydney’s west about 10.30am on Saturday.
A major search operation was launched and included help from the police air wing and hundreds of SES volunteers who searched backyards in the area.
Police confirmed that Hussein was found safe and sound in Auburn around 12.40pm on Monday.
But CCTV caught Hussein, who has special needs and also non-verbal, roaming Auburn train station on Saturday wearing a t-shirt, diaper and no shoes.
But no one seems to have tried to help him or find his parents.
CCTV captured Hussein, who has special needs and is also non-verbal, roaming the Auburn train station on Saturday wearing a t-shirt, diaper and no shoes. Social media users were outraged that a member of the public did not try to help the young boy
The images of Hussein shocked social media users, with many outraged staff or members of the public at the station did not stop to attend to a young boy who was clearly in distress.
‘I question people who didn’t think it was strange that a young boy, obviously disabled, wearing a T-shirt and nappy and wandering around, not strange? Didn’t you think to pick up the phone to the police? Mind blown!’,’ one person wrote.
“Strange no one stopped him and tried to help,” another person commented.
A third read: ‘Unfortunately I don’t think so, I think people are just too busy, don’t care. So many people around him, plus staff and everyone didn’t take it into account or just thought it wasn’t their problem’.
Forensic psychologist Tim Watson Munro told Daily Mail Australia it was ‘extraordinary’ it took so long to find Hussein.
“It’s such a relief that he’s been found, it’s just absolutely terrible as he has a number of disabilities,” Mr Munro said.
‘It’s not like this kid didn’t want to stick out, either. He is not someone who would be easily seen at the station because of his disability.
‘So it’s quite extraordinary that people can just stop by.’
Hussein (pictured) was found under a stairwell at Queen Street Medical Center – just 150 meters away from Auburn Police Station – by a member of staff two days after he went missing
Munro said he could only speculate on the reasons why people did not help Hussein as he walked barefoot in a T-shirt and nappy at the train station.
He explained that people may not have been willing to help because they are “desensitized” to seeing people in need or are reluctant to get involved in a situation.
‘I think that in general principles it is about desensitization. We see so many people in need on the streets these days that we are immune to it,” Mr Munro said.
‘I also think that there may be a reluctance on the part of some to get involved in situations that they would just rather walk away from than step into.
“But this is a very different situation as it involves a severely disabled child and I’m sure the woman who found him was not the first person to see him.”
Munro also said it was ‘possible’ that people had the bystander effect – a social psychological theory that says individuals are less likely to offer help when a large crowd is present.
Witnesses may not take responsibility because they believe there is another person more qualified to take control, or another person has already notified the authorities.
Forensic psychologist said it was ‘extraordinary’ it took so long to find Hussein (pictured). He explained that people may not have helped the young boy as many have become “desensitized” or are reluctant to get involved
Munro also pointed to a ‘big city mentality’, comparing it to the ‘enormous’ public help to find missing mother-of-three Samantha Murphy in Ballarat, Victoria.
‘Of course (Hussein) was still in the local area. Maybe it has a big city dynamic as opposed to a small town like Ballarat,” Mr Munro said.
‘The public have been a huge help to the local community… they were very helpful.’
Hussein was found under a stairwell at Queen Street Medical Center – just 150 meters away from the Auburn Police Station – by a staff member who thought to check the area after seeing reports of the missing child.
NSW Police Inspector Simon Glasser said Hussein was smiling and sitting up when he was found and that he was “by all accounts doing well”.
Superintendent Glasser said his family were “ecstatic” to hear the news that he had been found and arrived at the scene immediately.
It is unclear how long the boy had been in the hallway and whether he had access to food or water. He was taken to hospital as a precaution.