By Brendan Rees
A relieved father has rejoiced in hugging his young son who had become lost at Lysterfield Park on Saturday 30 May.
Narre Warren SES volunteers had been undertaking a training exercise when a passer-by raised the alarm about 12 noon.
“An old chap on a bicycle came up to us and his phone had died,” SES crew leader Marcus Denning said.
“He said that he had met a gentleman on the track who lost his nine-year-old.”
At this stage the child had missing for about 40 minutes.
Mr Denning said he radioed for emergency assistance with police arriving on scene within five minutes.
Luckily a member of the public found the child within 15 minutes and brought him back to the main carpark.
Mr Denning said said the boy was hungry so “we gave him biscuits and he ate half the packet.”
Meanwhile, SES volunteers drove along the tracks and found the boy’s distressed father with his young daughter who had up until the ordeal been enjoying a family bike ride.
Volunteers put the bicycles in the back before driving the pair back to the carpark where the family was reunited.
Mr Denning said it wasn’t known exactly how the boy had become lost but praised the efforts of the passers-by and police who responded quickly.
“One of the good things about rescue type jobs is that agencies get there within such a short amount of time, it’s amazing.”
Mr Denning said it wasn’t uncommon for missing persons jobs to come up at Lysterfield Park including people who met with trouble in boats.
“It’s a place we try to at least make sure members are up to date with the access points so we don’t get confused,” he said.
