It could happen to anyone....

[Nutjob]

I have just seen a news report about that little 7 year old boy from Great Yarmouth,who is missing and I was near to tears. I just feel for his family sooooo much. And it was brought home even more by what happened to me today.

I was queuing up to pay in Next, and ds said he wanted to go and look at his reflection in a mirror just a few feet away, I told him he could, looked down into my bag to get my purse out and when I looked up he had gone and I couldn't see him anywhere. My blood ran cold and I tore round the shop calling his name, he was only gone for a minute, probably less, but the dread and anguish I felt just for that short time was terrible, so I can't even imagine what that poor little boys family are going through.

My thoughts and prayers are with them.

[whymummy]

i was really upset when i read it,it seems like yesterday that the soham girls disapeared and here we are again praying that this time they`ll find him safe and well

[mum2toby]

It's all too easy isn't it! It's so awful. I so hope they find that wee boy alive and well soon!

I had a panic moment the other day. My ds (nearly 2) was playing in the back garden. It's an enclosed garden, but I heard the gate going. I ran out but couldn't see him. I ran down the driveway screaming his name, but he was nowhere to be seen!!! Then I heard this little voice shouting Mummy from behind the wheelie bin!! He hadn't even left the garden and the gate had never been open..... it must've been someone elses I heard.

For a fleeting moment I though someone had walked upi the driveway, snatched him and ran off! I'm going to watch him even closer now. It was sickening.
Let's hope there's good news tonight about the little boy.

[crystaltips]

Just today I was out at a friends house. Between us we have 5 kids and they started playing with those next door - another 6 of them.
Came to going home and we gathered up our broods and there was 1 missing. Again the blood ran cold followed by the "I presumed he was with you". After frantic searching he was upstairs ( next door ) playing with their toys.
I happens so easily doesn't it?

[Chinchilla]

Yes it does happen so easily - see my 'Worst Mother Ever' thread

[XAusted]

Heard on the news that the missing child was seen on CCTV leaving a shop. Was he on his own? Seems young to be out alone.

[Nutjob]

Had a similar terrible experience with dd, whilst on holiday with my parents at Great Yarmouth, we were all on the Pier and ds was on one of those things were you put a pound in and steer a boat around a little pool, we were all watching him and stupidly assuming someone else was keeping an eye on dd, I looked round and suddenly realised she wasn't there. Every possible scenario goes through your head, especially as we were on a crowded pier, I imagined her falling over the side into the sea (she was only 2 and a bit at the time), I tore off screaming her name only to be called back minutes later to be told she was in a nearby arcade, Needless to say, I was straight of to Mothercare to buy one of those wristband 'dog-leads' as I call them. Not an experience I want to repeat in a hurry

[susanb]

I was born and grew up in Great Yarmouth and now live about 2 miles from where the little boy lives, in Caister.

It has been awful; the police helipcopter is constantly overhead, one of our main roads out of Yarmouth has been manned by a police van taking video footage and everybody is praying for Daniel's safe return.

It is very worrying as Daniel's bike was found next to the river, there is a steep embankment and then a sharp drop into the river which has very strong currents running through it.

I am praying for his safe return.

[mum2toby]

Susanb - it's awful to everyone, but for you to be there in the midst of it must be even worse! How old are your children (assuming you have any)? Are any of a similar age to Daniel?

[Slinky]

My thoughts and prayers are with Daniel's family and I am hoping so hard that they will find him safe and well.

Like most of you, hearing of Daniel going missing reminded me of when we temporarily lost our DS.

We were on our way back from France on a ferry - the same week that little Jessica and Holly were found. DS (then 4) suddenly disappeared - DH and I both wrongly "assumed" he was with the other. I had taken DD2 to the toilet, DH thinking I had taken him with me - so when I came back with DD2 - DH had DD1 - the pure horror of realising DS was missing was absolutely awful.

I instantly began to panic - thinking he had gone overboard as just before DH had taken DS/DD1 up on deck - so I am thinking he has gone back on his own.

I reported him missing to the Receptionist who immediately put out a tannoy announcement - asking my 4 yo son to go to Deck 7. At this point I screamed at her that I didn't know where bloody Deck 7 was, so how could a 4yo???

I was running around screaming at other people - hadn't they noticed a little boy crying???

I gave a description of what he was wearing - by then all the stewards/stewardesses were now looking for him - other passengers were looking for him. The worst thing was that I had to stay where we were incase he came back - my instinct was to run everywhere on that bloody boat - but I couldn't.

After 40 minutes of hell (and it seemed a lot longer) DS was found in the bar area where he was attracted by a "slot machine driving game!!! so had been playing with that!!!"

When he was returned to me - I realised with horror that I hadn't given the correct clothing description - he was wearing completely different clothes! I instantly burst out crying - fortunately DS hadn't realised he was "lost" so couldn't understand all the fuss.

This year, we are going back to France - and for the boat journeys - I have booked a cabin - and I intend to lock him in there LOL!!

Sorry for long ramblings - I endured 40 minutes of pure hell - I cannot even begin to imagine what Daniels parents are going through.

[mieow]

I lost my son at southend last year and it was only for a few minutes but in that time my heart was thumping and I felt sick I was running round like a mad woman and shouting at everyone. He wears splits on his legs and I was telling evryone that he has them and they can't miss him. He was found one the other side of the amusments sitting on a car game. I felt like the worse mum ever for losing him.

[susanb]

My son is 3.5, although my 3 sisters who also live nearby have kids aged between 5 and 12.

Today the place has been crawling with police, the helicopter is still over head and the river is still being trawled.

I still hope they find him safe and well.

[jac34]

I also lost my DS in Next. I was trying shoes on both my DS's, was putting old shoes back on 2nd DS, when I looked up, the other had vanished.
After searching the shop I told the manager, who called a secuity guard,(we were in a large shopping centre). The guard checked the Disney shop opposite,(it's where they all head for apparently)and while we all stood arround discussing what he looked like(just showed them my other DS, twins), DS reappeared shouting,"Mummy,Mummy, I've been rideing in the lifts"!!!
I found it so upsetting, especially as DS got really upset at loosing his twin, and started screaming,"Someone's stolen Al Mummy, someone's stolen Al".
My heart really did stop !!
Can't even imagine what the boys parents are going through.

[charliecat]

What is the difference between all of you that have freaked when your kids have gone out of sight, even for a minute or two and the mums who let their kids wander and shout them in 3 hours later when the housework and the dinners done? Any ideas? Ive always wondered.

[Chinchilla]

The difference is luck I think. When my ds managed to run off, even for a few seconds, I thank my lucky stars that there wasn't a 'bad' person close by. It only takes a few seconds.