A MISSING BOY who was found safe and well in Northern Ireland on Friday was located thanks to a tip-off from all the way in China, police have said.
Connor Creavey, 9, failed to return home in the Shankill area of Lurgan, Co. Armagh after playing out with friends on Thursday afternoon.
A large scale search operation was launched by police with local officers, TSG officers and Community Rescue Service workers assisted by Air Support in looking for the nine-year-old.
But by 10am on Friday, police confirmed he had been found safe – thanks to a bizarre social media tip-off from over 5,000 miles away.
A Lurgan resident, visiting China, supplied police with “vital” details about the house Connor might have been staying at.
Chief Inspector Jon Burrows said: “Our local social media post for our missing nine-year-old in Lurgan reached over half-a-million people in a matter of hours.
“It was picked up by a local citizen on their smartphone who was in China, resulting in vital information.”
Connor’s family thanked the local community for their support.
His aunt Ursula Murray said: “The people of Lurgan often get a bad rap but they certainly pulled through on this. Everyone has been amazing.
“The family would like to thank everyone who supported us through this, and the police for their help in searching for Connor.”