Rallying for a little adventurer

Aisling's curiosity took her away from her family - and now even strangers grieve. Photos / Sarah Ivey, supplied

Aisling Celine Symes was a determined little adventurer.

Sadly, it was that fascination with the wonders of the world that claimed the 2-year-old's life.

For whatever reason, on a bitterly cold night in Henderson, Aisling went wandering.

As sister Caitlin, 5, helped mother Angela fix the washing machine at their late grandparents' property on Longburn Rd, the toddler's interest waned. Leaving new toy "Pooh Pear" behind, she went exploring.

The ducklings down the back were tempting playmates, but Aisling turned toward the street. Zipped up in her snuggly green parka and flowered jeans, she toddled on to the footpath, one tiny white tennis shoe after the other.

Moments later an Asian lady with long black hair and a black and grey dog approached from behind.

Her precise movements are a mystery. But Aisling probably headed down the driveway at number five. And as the rain pelted down, she may have sought shelter under trees.

Next door, about that time, a mother began to panic. Her little girl was lost.

Running up and down the street, Mrs Symes screamed her youngest daughter's name. The neighbouring Tahitahi family joined the search, but after 15 fruitless minutes they called police.

Over the next 48 hours 100 searchers joined the hunt. From opposite ends of the city heavy-hearted Aucklanders scoured the streets, creek and sea inlets. They came to help, the only way they knew how.

"I've been listening to the radio at work and came over," said Mark Walker, a stranger to the family.

Meanwhile Aisling's family huddled behind closed doors and drawn curtains at their home in Massey, praying for a miracle. Neighbours and friends poured in with food and offers of help.

"I don't live here, I'm just helping out," said one man, as he mowed the sloping lawn. Relatives took turns preparing dinner, forcing the parents to sit down and eat.

"We have rostered ourselves so we're not all always there. So much has been coming in," said Angela's brother, David Ball.

Behind the modern two-storey house Aisling and Caitlin's swingset stood empty and motionless.

Caitlin was kept on a tight rein, not understanding where her sister had gone.

When police formally suspended their search on Wednesday, inquiry head Inspector Gary Davey was "confident" Aisling wasn't in the area.

As time went on the likelihood of abduction increased.

But who would take their daughter? Were they of right mind? Question after unanswered question.

Clinging to hope, the Symes' clawed their way through minutes and hours, barely sleeping or eating.

Aisling's "stoic Irishman" father largely kept it together. Her mother just sobbed and sobbed.

"She's crying so much she can't breathe," said the toddler's aunt Esther Ball. When the Symes fronted the media, their drained faces and red eyes told an agonising tale.

As Aisling's disappearance hit the headlines, word travelled abroad. Irish media scrambled for information on Mr Symes, who emigrated from the county of Waterford 18 years ago.

The parents of Madeleine McCann - missing from a Portuguese resort since 2007 - sent an email pledging support.

The team of 40 police investigating Aisling's disappearance swelled to 70 as information came in.

The strongest lead was the mysterious Asian woman - the last seen with the toddler. But why had she not come forward?

Desperate police swooped on several Asian women with Aisling look-alikes.

Desperate to keep her face in the media, the parents battled through more interviews.

Clutching Pooh Bear, the toy Aisling "just couldn't seem to put down", Mrs Symes strained her exhausted mind for details that might bring her daughter back. Like the dark birthmark above the toddler's left hip, about the size of an old 50-cent coin.

Sitting down to the same mob of journalists with no new leads, the man in charge of the hunt made it personal.

"Whoever you are, you might be scared or intimidated by police activity over the past week. Don't be - call me," Mr Davey said.

Police still believed the toddler was taken.

But the next day - a week after Aisling's disappearance - a 2-year-old body was found. Mr Davey delivered the grim news.

Yesterday a post-mortem ruled out foul play. However Aisling got into that drain, she had drowned.