I don't mean to cast aspersions on the SAR folks! A missing five year old has to be a big challenge, and I'm absolutely certain they went all out 110% trying to find him. It was very sad that he could not be located in time but in all honesty it wasn't a total failure. As heartbreaking as the loss of their son must have been, it would perhaps have been worse still if his body was never found. I can't even imagine the weeks turning to months and the months to years, still not knowing if your child was alive or dead.
A sad ending but I know they did all they could. If anything good can be made of a tragic situation like this it will be the result of publicity that leads to discussions like this. Perhaps another set of parents will think on this and prepare their child a little better and have a plan in place.
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“I'd rather have questions that cannot be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” —Richard Feynman