A 6-year-old school boy has been praised by police for providing a crucial breakthrough in locating missing Perth grandfather Francisco Rebelo.

Tommy Cook spotted a ‘cool cubby’ on his walk to school Thursday morning which was later discovered to be sheltering the 88-year-old who had been missing for 42 hours. 

Police and SES crews carried out extensive searches for the elderly man, who hadn’t been seen since leaving his East Fremantle home Tuesday afternoon.

Tommy Cook (right) was awarded a certificate of appreciation by WA Police (representative, left) for helping locate missing elderly man, Francisco Rebelo

Tommy Cook (right) was awarded a certificate of appreciation by WA Police (representative, left) for helping locate missing elderly man, Francisco Rebelo

He was rescued from the bushland around 10am, which was just 600m from his Hubble Street home, and taken to hospital suffering a mild headache.

Mr Rebelo suffers dementia and had spent two days disoriented in wet conditions without his diabetes medication.

Tommy and his mother, Jo, were walking along East Street towards East Fremantle Primary School when the young student pointed out what he thought was a ‘cool cubby’ just off the path.

Police and SES crews carried out extensive searches for the elderly man (pictured), who hadn't been seen since leaving his East Fremantle home Tuesday afternoon

Police and SES crews carried out extensive searches for the elderly man (pictured), who hadn't been seen since leaving his East Fremantle home Tuesday afternoon

Police and SES crews carried out extensive searches for the elderly man (pictured), who hadn’t been seen since leaving his East Fremantle home Tuesday afternoon

‘I just was walking to school and then I saw this cool cubby and then when I was at school and my mum was going back home she went in the cubby and she saw someone and she called police and said she may have found the missing man,’ he told Nine News. 

‘I was just going along the path and I just saw him… I was kind of like freaked out.’

‘I thought I was probably being spied on or something.’ 

Tommy was walking to school with his mother, Jo (left) when he pointed out what he thought was a 'cool cubby' just off the path

Tommy was walking to school with his mother, Jo (left) when he pointed out what he thought was a 'cool cubby' just off the path

Tommy was walking to school with his mother, Jo (left) when he pointed out what he thought was a ‘cool cubby’ just off the path

Ms Cook contacted police after seeing posters around the school calling for information on Mr Rebelo’s whereabouts.

‘There were signs up on the doors of each classroom with a picture saying to call Crime Stoppers,’ she told Perth News. 

‘A couple of the mums were talking about it and that made me think there could be a connection and it turned out Tommy’s cubby was the place.’ 

Tommy was formally acknowledged by WA Police on Friday who awarded him an appreciation certificate

Tommy was formally acknowledged by WA Police on Friday who awarded him an appreciation certificate

Tommy was formally acknowledged by WA Police on Friday who awarded him an appreciation certificate

Tommy, who hopes to become a detective in the future, said he wanted to walk inside of cycle to school to help look for Mr Rebelo. 

Tommy was formally recognised on Friday when police presented him with certificate of appreciation.

Mr Rebelo was recovering well from the ordeal, with his family releasing a statement extending their gratitude to all who helped in the rescue. 

Tommy, who hopes to become a detective in the future, said he wanted to walk inside of cycle to school to help look for Mr Rebelo

Tommy, who hopes to become a detective in the future, said he wanted to walk inside of cycle to school to help look for Mr Rebelo

Tommy, who hopes to become a detective in the future, said he wanted to walk inside of cycle to school to help look for Mr Rebelo

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