Northern Territory Police have commenced a "major investigation" into the death of a child in a remote community in Central Australia on New Year's Day, as they reveal more details of the tragic incident.
Key points:
- A boy under five was found in Hermannsburg on New Year's Day morning after being reported missing
- He was found injured but alive and was taken to the local clinic, but died soon after
- A major investigation is underway, but police do not yet know if his death was suspicious
On Saturday, a statement issued by police said a boy under 10 had died in a remote community south-west of Alice Springs after going missing from a home, despite a search and rescue effort to locate him.
No further information was provided about the community the boy went missing from or his cause of death, and his exact age was not given.
On Sunday, NT Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Sachin Sharma addressed the media to provide more information about the police investigation.
He revealed the boy had gone missing from the community of Hermannsburg, 126 kilometres from Alice Springs, on the night of New Year's Eve, and a search and rescue effort had been launched after the child's family reported him missing soon after.
He said the boy was under five years old.
"Unfortunately, police received a report on New Year's Eve that there was a lost child in the Hermannsburg community, west of Alice Springs," he said.
"Upon investigation, and with help from the community and family, a search commenced at night.
"Unfortunately, yesterday morning, we found that child.
"Shortly after, they were taken to the local clinic, and he was pronounced dead."
Acting Assistant Commissioner Sharma said the boy had been found within the Hermannsburg community, about 10 hours after going missing.
He said police had found the child alive, but he had died soon after they reached the local clinic.
He also said the boy had been found with injuries, but declined to specify the nature of those due to the ongoing investigation.
The boy's cause of death has not yet been determined.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Sharma said police were treating the case with the utmost seriousness and had classed it as a "major investigation" to ensure it received the highest level of resourcing.
He said the circumstances of the child's death were not necessarily suspicious, but police had not ruled that out.
"For that reason, we will take it to the highest level, in providing an investigative response."
Police have declared a crime scene in Hermannsburg and deployed a team of officers to the community as well as nearby Alice Springs to investigate, including detectives, forensics and local police.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Sharma said the team was interviewing witnesses and community members, including by going door to door, and were urging anyone with any information about the incident to come forward.
"All I want to impress upon [people] is that it is being taken very seriously. it is a very sensitive investigation for us," he said.
'An absolute tragedy'
The NT police force has expressed its condolences to the child's family, and asked for their privacy to be respected at this time.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Sharma said the boy's family was still coming to terms with the news of his death.
"Anyone in that situation would be distraught," he said.
"It is a horrible situation to be in."
He said the wider Hermannsburg community had also been rocked by the heartbreaking news, as had police.
"I never thought I would be standing in front of you in the new year and delivering this sort of news to you," he said.
"It is very sad, it is very tragic.
"We are obviously working with the family, and the community, and that is part of our response, when we deploy community engagement and resilience officers, to provide that comfort, that police will do anything and everything within our control to search for those answers."
On Sunday afternoon, NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles also passed on her condolences.
"[It is] an absolute tragedy," she said.
"My heart goes out to the family and the community in Central Australia.
"Condolences to the community and the family, and we'll allow the authorities to undertake the appropriate investigations."
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMicGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIyLTAxLTAyL250LWNoaWxkLWRlYXRoLWhlcm1hbm5zYnVyZy1wb2xpY2UtY29tbWVuY2UtbWFqb3ItaW52ZXN0aWdhdGlvbi8xMDA3MzUxOTTSAQA?oc=5
2022-01-02 10:33:06Z
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