Anthony Elfalak played with his brother on their 650-acre property off Yengo Drive in Putty when he disappeared yesterday just before midday.
The young boy’s family, missing in the New South Wales Hunter Valley, fear he may have been kidnapped as they search for him enters its second night.
Age
He is 3 years old.
Anthony Elfalak Missing
Elfalak, known as AJ, has wandered off from his home on Yengo Drive in Putty just before 12 pm on Friday.
AJ, who has autism and is non-verbal, was last seen at home on the property at about 11.45 am.
His mother, Kelly Elfalak, told 7NEWS she turned her head for a moment, and he was gone.
She has raised her concern that something more sinister may be at play as she said he never wanders too far.
Search and rescue have been scouring the rugged terrain, trying to locate the small boy.
He is described as being of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, with short dark hair and believed to be wearing a grey jumper and pants, and sneakers.
Police officers, the SES, and the Rural Fire Service worked through the night searching for the boy.
Mother’s Statement
AJ’s family moved to the property just three months ago and were emotional today, saying it was out of character for him to wander off.
“I just want to find my son, I need to find AJ,” the missing boy’s mother, Kelly Elfalak, told 9News.
“I’ve searched the property, so many times I’ve searched, and I still cannot find him.
“I’m his universe, he holds my hand all day and all night, we are together all the time – something’s not right.”
The family said they spotted a suspicious older model Toyota Hilux on the private road surrounding the property the same time he went missing.
Investigation
While police have not yet issued an amber alert, all lines of inquiry are being followed as wet weather sets in across the region tonight.
“Really every minute is important, our priority is to just find AJ as quickly as we can,” NSW Police superintendent Tracy Chapman said.
“The terrain is very difficult. We’re in a rural setting. There are various levels of elevation.
“We have been searching some of the dams and waterways.”
Superintendent Chapman said dams in the area had been emptied and police divers deployed but have returned no trace.
There are grave concerns for the boy due to his developmental condition.
The search will continue overnight, with police bringing in additional resources for patrols across the property and neighboring farms with Polair using thermal imaging cameras from up above.
The rural town of Putty is located about two hours northwest of Sydney and is surrounded by bushland.
Found Alive
Footage emerged from the incredible moment a little boy was found alive – three days after he vanished from his family’s rural property.
Sitting in a creek drinking muddy water and splashing himself, three-year-old Anthony ‘AJ’ Elfalak was spotted by a Pol Air helicopter just 500 meters from his home around 11.30 am on Monday.
The discovery came 72hrs after AJ – who has autism and is non-verbal – was last seen playing on the porch at his family’s 256ha rural property in Putty, about 150km northwest of Sydney in the Upper Hunter last Friday.
