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UPDATE: ‘Amazing’ Highland community response hailed as boy (7) posted missing on Fyrish is found





A REMARKABLE community response kicked into action in Easter Ross on Saturday night as word got around that a seven-year-old had become separated from his parents on Fyrish.

Fyrish Monument, overlooking Evanton, is a popular walk with locals and visitors alike. Picture: Michael Martin.
Fyrish Monument, overlooking Evanton, is a popular walk with locals and visitors alike. Picture: Michael Martin.

Happily, there was a positive ending to the search drama and the boy, understood to be Lithuanian and the son of visitors to the area, has been safely reunited with his parents.

News about the missing lad began to spread shortly before 7pm this evening.

The boy, named locally as Gabrielos. The image was shared on Facebook as the search got underway. Picture: Facebook
The boy, named locally as Gabrielos. The image was shared on Facebook as the search got underway. Picture: Facebook

It’s understood that the boy’s parents expected him to be at the carpark as he had gone on ahead of them. The alarm was raised when they discovered he wasn’t there.

Word travelled like wildfire with immediate offers of help and pooling of information via social networks across Easter Ross and beyond.

A significant number of people made their way direct to the local landmark, a popular attraction for walkers and visitors to the area, to volunteer for a search party.

Happily, there was a successful conclusion to the drama which one involved in the search described as “every parents’ worst nightmare”.

Confirmation locally that he had been found began to circulate around 9pm.

Police, who were involved in the search, have been contacted for comment. Reports locally suggest that a police search dog found the boy but that has yet to be confirmed.

Quick on the scene was the locally based Emergency Community Response - whose Michael O’Neill was voted Volunteer of the Year at the Highland Hero awards organsied by the Ross-shire Journal’s parent company, Highland News and Media.

Emergency Community Response told us: “We saw the post on Facebook and then spoke to police.

“We headed up the hill and had dogs on route from St Andrews and also specialist quad bikes. It was a police dog who found him but he was safe and well and happy whilst on the way to be reunited with his mum, so that was good.”

Amongst many involved in the search was CSR Drone SAR, a network of volunteer drone pilots ready to help in the event of a missing person call.

A spokesman said: “We were one of the first on scene after Police Scotland. We readied our drones but with the arrival of the Coastguard helicopter we had to remain grounded. We don’t mind as their equipment is far superior to ours.

“As we were there, mountain rescue arrived followed by HM Coastguard teams. There was a vast amount of local volunteers who came to search - it was amazing to see.”

The group’s involvement came after they were tagged on Facebook with one volunteer member from Tain heading to the scene to offer help.

The group has a range of equipment from drones to cliff and water rescue equipment.

The spokesman said: “As soon as we heard we went straight there. The scene was amazingly calm. The locals had rallied together and were determined to find him. The mother was obviously distressed.”

Another said: “Everyone is just glad he was found safe and well before it got dark and that he is now back with his parents. Every parents’ worst nightmare!”

And one woman posting on a local Facebook page summed up the feelings of many when she posted: “We arrived to help as soon as we saw the post and seeing the amount of people turn up and help was amazing.

“I have only lived in the Highlands for 10 months and what an amazing community it is. Well done everyone. Hope the little boy is not too shaken up.”

Were you involved? Do you have pictures, information or reflections on the situation to share? Get in touch by emailing hector.mackenzie@hnmedia.co.uk


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