Miracle after boy, 6, missing overnight (2025)

The search for a young boy who went missing from a playground in Victoria has ended with a miracle, after a teenage mountain bike rider located the youngster a day after he disappeared.

Six-year-old Parsa, who has autism and is non-verbal, wandered away from a family Easter gathering at the Olinda Playspace in the Dandenong Ranges about 4pm on Friday afternoon.

He was last seen by family members near Olinda-Monbulk Road, just metres from vast and dense bushland.

His family launched a frantic search before reporting him missing to police around 30 minutes later.

Victoria Police immediately launched a large-scale search operation involving the Search and Rescue Squad, Mounted Branch, Dog Squad, PORT, SES, CFA, and the Air Wing helicopter. Despite their efforts, the search on Friday evening was unsuccessful.

Searchers faced additional challenges due to Parsa’s condition.

Knox Acting Senior Sergeant Mel Gostimir said searches for lost children with autism can be challenging as often they are unable to communicate with searchers.

After speaking with Parsa’s family, police learned his favourite songs were Hickory Dickory Dock and a song about learning the alphabet. Officers played the tunes over their phones and broadcast them through police car PA systems in an effort to draw his attention.

On Saturday morning, 18-year-old Asher Shinkfield, a Kalorama local, heard about the missing boy and decided to help.

He set off on his usual mountain bike ride through the area in the hope of spotting him.

“It was the normal morning ride on my mountain bike ... I came up the hill and saw he was there and knew from chats and stuff that he was missing and called up the police,” he told ABC Breakfast.

Mr Shinkfield found the boy just after 8.15am on a trail deep in the bushland and waited with him for rescue crews.

“(I was) sitting with him hoping he was alright, I think it was alright,” he said.

“The team did an excellent job to come and get him. He was a long way off, a long way to come and get him.”

Despite appearing sleep-deprived, Parsa was checked over by paramedics and found to be in good health and was soon reunited with his relieved family.

Police and emergency services praised the overwhelming support from community members and volunteers who turned out to assist in the search.

“To return Parsa safely to his family for Easter is a wonderful result,” Sergeant Gostimir said.