Extraordinary footage has emerged of the incredible moment a missing boy, who sparked a three-hour search, was reunited with his frantic family.
Xavier Death’s family raised the alarm shortly after the three-year-old boy went missing from a home in Angus, near Riverstone in Sydney’s north-west, at about 2.35pm on Monday.
Police have launched an urgent search, with grave concerns for his welfare due to his young age.
The officer, with the help of the community, spent more than three and a half hours searching for him.
Xavier was found safe and sound by a member of the public at around 6.10pm, more than 1km from where he went missing.
Surrounded and comforted by his relieved family, Xavier’s emotional father held back tears as he hugged his son.
“I would like to absolutely thank everyone who came out to try and help my little boy find his way home,” Death told reporters.
If it wasn’t for the community, I think we would have really struggled all night trying to find him.
‘I would also like to say a big thank you to the guy who found it, I can’t remember his name but I really appreciate it.’
When asked by reporters why he left home alone, Xavier said he had been looking for kangaroos before getting lost.
Xavier’s father said that if it weren’t for his helpful neighbors, his son might not have been found.
Luckily, Xavier was wearing warm clothes when he ventured outside.
The man who found him asked Xavier if he needed help, but the boy was initially distracted by the sight of a passing kangaroo.
Xavier reunited with his father after embarking on an adventure ‘looking for kangaroos’
The three-year-old boy had gone missing near Riverstone at 2.35pm and was found 1km away more than three hours later.
The sun had set during the search for Xavier “long before he was found,” according to his father, and temperatures had also dropped in the area.
“Following a large-scale search and a geo-targeted alert message sent to the local area, the child was found by a member of the community at around 6:10 p.m.,” the statement said.
‘Riverstone Police would like to thank the community for their assistance.’