Muscat: The Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA) renewed its call for families to exercise extra caution during desert and camping trips, urging close supervision of children, the designation of clear assembly points, regular checks around campsites and adherence to safety guidelines in wide, open desert areas.
This came up when an eight-year-old child was found safe and in good health in the Bidiyah desert after an intense eight-hour search operation that united rescue teams, aerial support and local residents in a shared mission driven by hope and compassion.
The Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA) said its teams in Al Sharqiyah North Governorate responded promptly after receiving a report that the child had gone missing in a desert area.
A coordinated search was immediately launched, involving ground patrols, Royal Oman Police units, ROP Aviation and volunteers from the surrounding community. Despite fear, exhaustion and the harsh desert sun, the child showed remarkable courage, walking an estimated 15 kilometres across open terrain in the hope of reaching a populated area.
He was eventually located alive and in reassuring condition after continuous search efforts that combined field operations, aerial reconnaissance and real-time monitoring from operations rooms.
A spokesperson for the CDAA said the operation reflected a deep sense of shared responsibility, noting that all those involved searched with constant determination until the child was found.
“Many of the rescuers felt as though they were searching for their own child,” the spokesperson said, underscoring the strong human bond that drove the operation to a successful conclusion. The authority praised the child’s family for their close cooperation and timely provision of information, stressing that the positive outcome highlighted the importance of integration between official rescue services and community support.
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