I agree - very sad. prayers for the family!!

I think the decisive factor was weather. It probably also hampered the search. visibility may have been limited.

I honestly don't see a positive answer for a young child like that - in rain and cold weather. His best hope might have been to crawl under thick bushes to escape the weather. but the chances are - he was already soaked and hypothermic, before he stepped off the road. it would be a SERIOUS situation for an adult, unless they remained dry and knew how to construct shelter and a fire.