A six-year-old boy who vanished from services on the M1 on a school trip was asleep by roadworks when rescuers found him, his father has revealed.
Aadil Umair Rahim disappeared at Newport Pagnell Services, Milton Keynes, on the M1 motorway on Friday evening. Thames Valley Police have confirmed he was on a school trip heading home from London to Nottingham.
The boy was found near Newbolt Close, a ten-minute walk and half a mile away from the service station where he disappeared.
Police and volunteers from the local community carried out a nine-hour search, involving a helicopter, overnight.
Aadil Umair Rahim, who vanished from services on the M1 on a school trip, was asleep by roadworks when rescuers found him, his father has revealed
A CCTV image of Aadil from when he was at the service station earlier, which was circulated by police. He was wearing a green jumper, a grey long top, grey trousers and a white skull cap
Umair Rahim told The BBC his son was ‘perfectly fine’, adding: ‘Police told me he was sleeping when they found him.’
‘I have no idea if he was outside for the whole nine hours,’ he added. He also said that he was grateful to the emergency services for their help.
According to the Milton Keynes Citizen, the boy was found on a block near roadworks by a large search party, wearing only a jumper to protect him from the cold.
He was located just off the M1 northbound carriageway, in an area which houses the Matrix system, close to a footbridge near Newbolt Close.
Thames Valley Police began a search at around 7.15pm and announced Aadil had been found nine hours later, shortly after 4am on Saturday.
Graphic shows the boy was found near Newbolt Close, a ten-minute walk and half a mile away from the service station in Milton Keynes
The force said a large number of officers were involved in the search, as well as a helicopter from the National Police Air Service, which is believed to have directed officers to the area where the boy was located.
After Aadil was found in the local area, his father Umair Rahim wrote: ‘My son has arrived and he is safe now. Thanks for the prayers. Shukar to Allah.
‘Thanks to Thames Valley Police helicopter services fire department and safe and rescue department who worked tirelessly for 9 hours and found him safe.
Emergency services pictured during the major search that took place. The six-year-old was found safe and well on Saturday after going missing from Newport Pagnell Services
Police have located the missing boy who wandered away from the service station. He was reportedly found sitting on a block near M1 roadworks
Search and rescue volunteers explore the surrounding area. After being found his father, Umair Rahim, thanked the ‘local community’ and police for helping in the search
‘There was more than 1,000 people looking for him I’m thankful to everyone.’
Thames Valley Police Superintendent Amy Clements thanked the officers and members of the public involved in the overnight search.
She said: ‘This was a very difficult operation involving a very young boy and we are relieved to say that Aadil has been found safe and well.
‘I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the local community, who immediately offered help in trying to find Aadil.’
Emergency services during the search. When he went missing, the six-year-old was believed to be on a school trip when they made a stop at the service station
Bucks Search and Rescue, a volunteer organisation, helping in the search. Thames Valley Police Superintendent Amy Clements thanked the officers and members of public involved
When he went missing, the six-year-old was believed to be on a school trip when they made a stop at the service station, according to social media reports.
He was wearing a green jumper, a grey long top, grey baggy trousers and a white skull cap.
Khalil Rafiq told the Mirror Online that his son was on the same trip and had been visiting the Museum of London.
The National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter helped in the search.
A CCTV image of Aadil from when he was at the service station was also circulated by police.