Divers join search for toddler missing on rural property in croc country
Police divers have arrived at a sprawling, isolated cattle station in far north Queensland to help search for a toddler who went missing two days ago.
The search for two-year-old Ruben resumed at first light on Thursday.
If the little boy is still alive, he's now spent two nights on his own after going missing from his home on Koolatah Station on Tuesday afternoon.
"It's been another long night," Cape Patrol Inspector Mark Henderson said on Thursday morning.
Seven helicopters are crisscrossing the 170,000-hectare station scouring for signs of the boy, while rangers on motorbikes, police, State Emergency Service crews and about 20 people from neighbouring properties look on foot.
Tactical crime squad officers have travelled from Cairns and drones are also supporting the search of the property, on the western side of Cape York Peninsula.
"It is now in excess of 40 hours so it does make the challenge a bit harder, and as we speak we have some light rain starting to fall, so that will make our day difficult," Insp Henderson said.
"But we won't stop, we will keep searching and looking, hopefully bring this family some peace."
Toddler’s mother ‘holding herself together’
The little boy's mother, Natasha Scott, and distraught relatives have shared their desperation on social media.
"As people may know my little Ruby has gone missing," she wrote on Facebook on Wednesday.
"I have every person that can help helping to find him ... (I am) trying to hold myself together."
Ms Scott thanked everyone who had helped spread the message about her son and joined in to look for him.
"Come home baby please Aunty Reesey misses you we all miss you," his aunt Cherese Scott wrote on Facebook.
"We want our Ruby home safe and sound."
The little boy only recently turned two. His mum described her son as the "greatest person ever".
"Life's complete with you and your smile," she wrote alongside a picture of the smiling little boy in July.
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