Hope is fading for little August “Gus” Lamont, who vanished from his grandparents’ remote Outback station six days ago. The only clue so far is a single small footprint found in the red dust near their property, 40 kilometers south of Yunta, South Australia.

Locals now fear Gus may have fallen into one of the unmarked wells or old mine shafts scattered across the vast land. “Some are invisible until you’re right on top of them,” a long-time resident said. “We all pray he’s just lost, not gone forever.” Police have dismissed abduction theories, explaining that the property is so isolated, only station owners travel nearby.

Search teams, including the Australian Defence Force, have combed the area repeatedly. Superintendent Mark Syrus said, “We’ve searched every inch — we’re desperate for any sign of him.” Despite their tireless efforts, authorities admit they may soon shift from a rescue to a recovery mission.

As one local put it sadly, “Out here, the land is beautiful but unforgiving. We just want to bring Gus home.”