Police divers found the body, believed to be that of missing two-year-old boy Sam Trott, earlier today.
They cleared volunteer searchers from the area and cordoned off the lake in Landsdale, a suburb north of Perth. Some volunteers were so overcome with emotion that they were seen wiping away tears.
Other locals later arrived at the lake and at the family’s home with flowers.
The boy’s disappearance from his home around 10.30am yesterday sparked a massive search of the area by SES, police and local volunteers that stretched overnight but with no result.
Sam Trott. Picture: WA Police
Sam’s parents yesterday told a media conference they believed he had slipped out of their home after a tradesman inadvertently left a door open.
“We had some workmen come in to install some mirrors and one minute he was there and I spoke to him,” Mrs Trott told reporters.
“I heard the fridge door beep because he was in the fridge, I said ‘shut the door Sam’.
“Thirty seconds later it beeped again and as I turned back around… he wasn’t there. I immediately saw the front door open and I just ran, I ran out the front.
“In 30 seconds he was not there anymore. When I looked left and right, straight ahead and I couldn’t see him I ran straight back inside, I went through every room screaming his name.”
“He doesn’t know how to open doors but the door was wide open.”
Sam’s grandfather had earlier raised concerns that the child’s autism may have made his behaviour unpredictable, and that he may not answer if called.
