Tragic end to search for missing Strathfieldsaye boy

POLICE and State Emergency Service volunteers recovered the body of missing Strathfieldsaye boy Bailey Fuller from a dam early this morning.The nine-year-old's body was found in the dam near the intersection of Sinclairs Road and Bennetts Road about 1.10am.Police will now prepare a report for the coroner.Police and State Emergency Service volunteers had spent more than seven hours searching bushland at Strathfieldsaye for the missing boy. Vision: Apex ImageryPolice said Bailey Fuller, 9, left his Sullivans Road home on his brother’s red mountain bike about 5pm.The bike was found in a ditch outside 310 Bennetts Road about 5.30pm. Police established a command post near the bike to co-ordinate foot searches through surrounding bush.An air ambulance flew above the search area looking for the boy for about two hours. A specially equipped air wing helicopter and the police dog squad later joined the search.SES crews from as far as Marong were called to the scene to join the search.Family, friends and neighbours also looked for the boy on foot and in cars.“He was last spotted riding his bike around his house and around here,” Sergeant Jaime Mannes said. “We received the report at 5.30pm and he is believed to have gone missing about 20 minutes earlier.''Police said the boy had a history of seizures. About 9pm, the search party rechecked the Bennetts Road property where the bike had been found.Police earlier pleaded with people in the area they were searching to remain in their homes and cars, for fear they would hinder the ability of the air wing and dog squad to find the boy.Bailey was wearing an orange T-shirt and blue shorts with bare feet when he went missing.Police thanked the community for its support in the search. Police and SES members at the command centre in Bennetts Road last night. Pictures: MATT KIMPTON