Missing baby boy search after mother and toddler found dead off SA coast
Consensus Summary
Emergency services are searching for a missing baby boy, described as about two months old or three-month-old, off the coast of South Australia near Port MacDonnell, about 400 kilometres south-east of Adelaide. The search follows the discovery of the bodies of a 36-year-old woman and her toddler, who was 23 months old, found floating in the ocean yesterday after a car with its engine running was reported about 11:15am on Monday. Police have confirmed the vehicle involved is a white Isuzu MU-X with registration S592 BJR and are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers. The search was temporarily suspended about 3:30pm on Tuesday due to rough weather but is set to resume tomorrow morning. Authorities have expressed grave concerns for the baby’s safety, though survivability experts suggest it is unlikely the child has survived. The incident remains under investigation, with police exploring multiple scenarios and speaking to the husband of the deceased woman.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- A baby boy about two months old is missing off the coast of South Australia.
- A 36-year-old woman from Compton, near Mount Gambier, was found dead in the ocean.
- A toddler under the age of three (later confirmed as 23 months old) was also found dead in the ocean.
- The incident occurred about 400 kilometres south-east of Adelaide, near Port MacDonnell.
- The search began after a car (registration S592 BJR) was found with its engine running about 11:15am on Monday.
- The bodies of the woman and toddler were found floating in the ocean yesterday (after the initial report on Monday).
- Police are urging anyone who saw the white Isuzu MU-X (registration S592 BJR) to contact Crime Stoppers.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The missing baby was described as both 'about two months old' and 'three-month-old' in different reports.
- The search was suspended about 3:30pm on Tuesday due to rough weather and would resume tomorrow morning.
- The toddler was specifically described as '23 months old' in one report.
- SA Premier Peter Malinauskas was briefed on Monday night and warned against jumping to conclusions.
- The missing baby was described as 'less than one year old' in one report.
- Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said emergency services were 'genuinely committed' to finding the infant.
- The search began after an officer responded to reports of a car with its engine running in the car park at Cape Northumberland about 11:15am on Monday.
- The investigation is active, and police have spoken to the husband of the woman and father of the children.
- The search was described as 'treacherous' due to tall waves and low visibility in the water today.
- The toddler was described as 'under the age of three' in one report.
- The baby was described as missing after the bodies of the mother and toddler were pulled from the ocean.
- Police held 'grave concerns for the child’s safety' but did not specify the baby’s age beyond being an infant.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC reports the missing baby was 'about two months old' in one instance and 'three-month-old' in another, while the Guardian does not specify the baby’s age beyond being an infant.
- ABC describes the toddler as 'under the age of three' and later as '23 months old', but the Guardian only refers to her as a 'toddler' without specifying age.
- ABC mentions the search was suspended about 3:30pm on Tuesday and would resume tomorrow morning, but the Guardian does not mention these specific timings or a suspension.
Source Articles
Search for missing two-month-old boy continues off SA coast
The bodies of the boy's mother and sister were found floating in the ocean yesterday, after authorities were called to Cape Northumberland, about 400 kilometres south-east of Adelaide.
Baby missing after mother and toddler found dead off coast of South Australia
Emergency services pulled the bodies from the ocean at Port Macdonnell amid ‘grave concerns’ for second child Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A baby is missing off the coast of South Australia after the bodies of a mother and her toddler were pulled from the ocean. Emergency services were called to the state’s southernmost coastal town, Port Macdonnell, at about 11.15am on Monday after a car was found with its engine running. Continue reading...
Search resumes for missing baby off South East SA coast
SA Police hold grave fears for the safety of a baby missing after the bodies of a woman and toddler were recovered in waters off Port MacDonnell.
Breaking: Ocean search for missing baby boy suspended because of rough weather
The search for a three-month-old baby boy still missing after the bodies of his mother and sister were recovered from waters off SA's South East has been suspended because of weather conditions, police say.