A two-year-old child who went missing at night from his home in south Galway over the weekend sparked a major alert involving the Irish Coast Guard, Garda and fire services.
The toddler was found by a Garda some three hours after the alarm was raised in a field about a quarter mile from his home.
Sources close to the search said the area was so remote, and conditions so challenging , that the child “might not have survived the night” if he had not been located.
In pyjamas
The alarm had been raised before 10pm on Friday when the boy appeared to have slipped away at his home in Capira, between Killimor and Portumna.
A team of up to 20 gardaí from across the Galway division were joined by fire service units, who provided lighting. An Irish Coast Guard helicopter was also tasked to assist.
The boy, wearing his pyjamas, was found after 1am on Saturday by a garda in a muddy field about a quarter mile from his home. The search was stood down and he was reunited with his family.
The Garda Press Office said it was aware of the incident, but could not comment further.
