KEY POINTS:
A 4-year-old boy with Down syndrome who spent a night in the bush, sparking a huge search and rescue operation, probably thought he was on a big adventure, his mother says.
Caleb Dowty was found wet and cold at 4.30am yesterday at the Walter Scott Reserve, Ngutunui, south of Hamilton.
He disappeared at the reserve at 3.30pm on Sunday while he was out walking with a relative as a treat.
Speaking to the Herald from her Te Awamutu home yesterday, Caleb's mother Melanie Dowty said her son was sound asleep after a night that had been tiring for the family.
Melanie and husband Mark spent the night at a search and rescue base awaiting word from up to 100 volunteers and search staff who helped to find their son.
Despite the drama Caleb was no worse for wear and only slightly tired, Mrs Dowty said.
"He actually came home a box of birds. He was happy as Larry and really excited but it's sort of caught up as the day's gone on and he's asleep now.
"I don't think he fully understood what all the fuss was about."
Caleb probably thought he was on an adventure, Mrs Dowty said.
"He loves doing that type of thing, I think all 4-year-old boys love to do it. He lives on the farm and he's really into climbing fences, walking up and down hills and exploring the farm and everything that's on the farm.
"It was just a whole new experience going into the bush like that."
Mrs Dowty said she never feared the worst, despite the cold and rain.
"I just felt that he was all right.
"We are overwhelmingly grateful for everything that everybody did."
