Tiniroto: Heartbreaking end to search for missing New Zealand boy Boy's body found in a pond Went missing 24 hours earlier READ MORE: Heartbreaking twist in the search for missing girl By Pranav Harish For Daily Mail Australia Published: 10:27 BST, 12 August 2024 | Updated: 10:27 BST, 12 August 2024 e-mail View comments A desperate search for an autistic boy who went missing in treacherous conditions has come to a tragic end after his body was found in a pond at a rural property. Five-year-old Khyzah was last seen at a property in Tiniroto, near Gisborne, on the east coast of New Zealand 's North Island on Sunday afternoon. Khyzah's disappearance sparked a massive search and rescue effort involving 50 police officers, helicopter crews and rescue dogs.
About 200 locals from the tight knit community also joined the desperate hunt to locate the little boy after his distressed mother reported him missing. Volunteers used cars, dirt bikes and even horses to scour the surrounding areas, including steep hills and waterways that had been inundated with heavy rain. Some travelled on foot for several kilometres to navigate the rugged terrain while while travelled from far away to take part in the search.
The 24 hour long large scale search ended when police found Khyzah's body in a pond at a nearby farm on Tiniroto Road at about 3.30pm on Monday. Khyzah's body was retrieved by rescuers before he was returned to his family.
His body was later taken to Gisborne Hospital. The rescue effort came to a devastating end when police found Khyzah's body in a pond on a nearby farm on Monday Read More Grim discovery in search for missing girl feared taken in crocodile attack Detective Sergeant Wayne Beattie said loved ones and the community are reeling from the shocking discovery. 'There were a lot of people in tears when the news came through that he had been found,' he said.
'On behalf of everyone involved in the search for Khyzah, police have extended their condolences to the whānau (family)'. Sergeant Beattie also thanked locals who supported Khyzah's family and the mammoth rescue effort. Tairāwhiti Area Commander Inspector Darren Paki added: 'This is obviously not the outcome we, the searchers, and the community were hoping for.
'We have a wonderful tight-knit community here, and we see the best of it in situations like this.' Friends and loved ones took to social media to express their grief. 'My heart feels so much sadness right now.
Sending so much love & healing to you beautiful Khyzah's whanau,' another person wrote. Others praised the efforts of locals for supporting his family. 'So glad the community rallied the way they did.
It will give them much needed support'. Hundreds of locals joined police in the massive search and rescue effort in Tiniroto (pictured) after Khyzah went missing on Sunday afternoon Locals provided frequent updates about the rescue effort on social media and said that people were searching 'every single hollow tree and 'every single nook and cranny'. 'Our community is in mourning,' Gisborne mayor Rehette Stoltz told NZME.
'We have been through so many tough times in the last couple of years and I'm so incredibly proud of how our community come together. 'In these tough times we have each other's backs, we look after each other.' Sgnt Beattie said police will continue to provide their support for the grieving family.
Khyzah's death will be referred to the coroner. New Zealand Share or comment on this article: Tiniroto: Heartbreaking end to search for missing New Zealand boy e-mail Add comment.
