Desperate hunt for missing eight-year-old boy ends in tragedy – body found in pond north of Canberra

The body of an eight-year-old boy who was missing since Saturday morning has been found in a pond north of Canberra.

Pranav Vivekanandan was reported missing after the bodies of a woman and a young boy – believed to be Pranav’s mother and brother – were discovered in Yerrabi Pond in Gungahlin.

After two days of searching, police took the boy’s body from the pond about 11am on Sunday. 

ACT police are investigating the circumstances of the three deaths, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

‘At this stage, police do not believe any other party was involved,’ police said in a statement.

Police also said there was no threat to the community. 

Officers searched Yerrabi Pond at Gungahlin in the ACT for Pranav Vivekanandan (pictured)

Officers found the bodies of the woman and other boy on Saturday after witness saw them in the water. Investigators later recovered a vehicle from a car park nearby.

This led to an urgent search for Pranav in the water and surrounding bushland.

Police spent hours on Saturday afternoon searching him, and specialist divers resumed the desperate search early on Sunday morning.

‘It’s obviously a tragic situation,’ Detective Superintendent Hall O’Meagher told reporters on Saturday. 

Officers are pictured searching Yerrabi Pond at Gungahlin in the ACT for the boy after the bodies of a woman and another boy were found in the water early on Saturday

Divers are pictured searching the water while other officers scour through surrounding bushland

‘We’re making inquiries with the family of these deceased people. They’re assisting us with our inquiries at this time.

‘Our thoughts go out to them and also to the responding police who have had to deal with this tragic circumstance.’

The cause and manner of the deaths are not yet known and investigations are ongoing.

‘We’re asking for any member of the public who has information in relation to the circumstances of this matter to come forward and call Crime Stoppers,’ police said.

State Emergency Services are pictured at the scene, while 30 police officers also took part in the operation

The bodies of a woman and a boy were discovered when police arrived at the area at 8am (pictured, police at the scene)

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On Saturday, police removed a white Subaru with a baby seat in the back from the water’s edge, which locals said had been at the park since 4am.

‘I opened the gate, noticed it was not locked with a child seat in back. I actually opened the door to see if keys (no keys) were in it, to move for access,’ local resident Rod Wheatley wrote on Facebook.

He told reporters that officers received a call from witness who spotted what they thought was a body in the lake.

Police said there is no ongoing threat to the community, while the next of kin had been informed (pictured investigations being carried out at the scene)

Yerrabi Pond is a popular recreation spot in Canberra’s north, with a playground, walking and cycling paths and a skate park.

The water is believed to be murky after recent rain, making it more difficult to search. 

Police are understood to have used used a drone for a better view. 

State Emergency Services and around 30 police officers took part in the operation. 

‘It is a distressing situation for the first responders – the police, SES and all the services that we rely upon to give us the assistance we need in these circumstances – but rest assured we have welfare support to provide to those officers today and in the days coming,’ Detective O’Meagher said.

It is not yet known whether the deaths were accidental.

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