Kelly Elfalak and Anthony Elfalak embrace after their son AJ was found alive on their family property near Putty in north-west Sydney, Australia. Dean Lewins/AAP Photo via AP
After three days of being lost in the Australian bush, an Australian toddler was found safe.
Parents of AJ Elfalak reported their son missing from their New South Wales rural property on Friday.
Over 130 people searched for AJ over the weekend before he was finally rescued.
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After he disappeared from his home on Friday, a 3-year old boy from New South Wales was lost for three nights in the Australian bush.
Anthony Elfalak was identified as the young boy. He survived three nights of freezing cold in the woods on his rural parents' property before he was found less than 550 meters from his home on Monday. According to police, his parents reported him missing Friday at 12:30 p.m.
New South Wales police posted a video to Twitter that appears to show the boy sipping water from a stream when he was spotted by air rescue crews.
-NSW Police Force (@nswpolice), September 6, 2021
CNN reports that law enforcement organized a large search party with assistance from local authorities and volunteers from the emergency services. Over 130 people spent the weekend looking for AJ.
The outlet reported that PolAir, an aviation support service, spotted AJ in the stream close to his home, and sent ground teams to rescue him after a long search.
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According to the AP AJ was sitting in the water when a State Emergency Service officer approached and touched his shoulder.
According to reports, the officer said that AJ "turned toward him with a huge smile after being touched
Ambulance personnel said that AJ was in good health and was taken to the hospital after his rescue. Since then, the boy was reunited with his family.
Anthony Elfalak, AJ's father, said to Australian media that his son had suffered from diaper rash and ant bites.
Continue the story
It's a miracle. He is alive. It's incredible," Anthony Elfalak's father told Seven News.
The Australian bush is well-known for being a barren, harsh terrain. Tracy Chapman, New South Wales Police Chief, stated that AJ's three-day stay in harsh conditions was possible because he was close to water.
"I can't explain it. Kelly Elfalak Kelly Elfalak's mother said that she is so blessed to have reunited with her son. I'm so glad he's here. He is with us, he is safe, well, and healthy. That's all that matters.
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