Missing Tolaga Bay four-year-old Axel has been found safe and well.
He was reunited with his tearful mother and appeared to be in good spirits - albeit m
Boy missing in Tolaga Bay, Gisborne: Desperate search for Axle, 4, overnight
4 May, 2021 09:55 PM
4 minutes to read
Missing four-year-old Axel has been found safe and well after a 21-hour ordeal. Video / Shanae Jones / UAWA Live
Missing four-year-old Axel has been found safe and well after a 21-hour ordeal. Video / Shanae Jones / UAWA Live
NZ Herald
The parents of missing boy Axel are beside themselves as the Tolaga Bay community rallies to search for the 4-year-old.
Police and volunteers are desperately scouring the area for the preschooler, who has been missing for more than 20 hours.
The urgent search for Axle, who was last seen at his rural Mangatuna home near Tolaga Bay around lunchtime yesterday, continued before first light today.
Photo: NZ Police
Police confirmed the boy named Axle was found about 10.45am today and has been reunited with his family.
Axle was found about 3.5km from the house , police constable Richard Reeves told RNZ.
Local broadcaster Uawa Live reports that more than 100 search and rescue volunteers cheered as the crew that found him made their way up the driveway.
RNZ understands the boy and his family are new to the community, which has 800 residents.
Tolaga Bay Civil Defence manager Greg Shelton estimates 200 to 300 people were out overnight - searching the bush and beach, supplying food and water and giving emotional support.