Search for missing baby resumes off SA coast amid community 'shock'

The search for a missing three-month-old boy in South Australia's South East is set to enter its third day, with authorities expressing grave concerns for his survival. The state's premier described the deaths of the boy's mother and sister as tragedies that "shock you to the core."

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These types of tragedies are the ones that shock you to the core. There are a lot of unanswered questions here.

Dangerous weather conditions forced the suspension of the search near Port MacDonnell on Monday afternoon. The bodies of the boy's 23-month-old sister and 36-year-old mother were discovered in the water on Monday morning. Emergency services had been called to a car park at the nearby Cape Northumberland headland earlier that day.

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Wherever we see the loss of anybody, it's a tragedy. Where it involves children, that breaks your heart.

Police found the woman's car, a white Isuzu MU-X, abandoned with its engine still running. The circumstances have deeply distressed the local community and the wider state. "Wherever we see the loss of anybody, it's a tragedy. Where it involves children, that breaks your heart," said South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas.

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Everybody is just kind of stunned because you hope these things don't ever happen and it's just sad that something like this has happened.

Local leaders and residents have expressed shock and pledged support for the family. Mayor of the Southern Limestone Coast Council, Kylie Boston, stated the community is "stunned" and that thoughts are with the family. She praised the resilience of regional communities and the efforts of local volunteers who have joined the extensive search. Police Superintendent Trent Cox confirmed that search teams would regroup at first light on Wednesday, anticipating challenging conditions despite a forecast of less extreme weather than the previous day.

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Kudos to the community, the boys will always put their boats in, they'll always go out and have a look.