AN eight-year-old boy who went missing for 27 hours during appalling weather at Chulmleigh last week was eventually found by members of the Tavistock Search and Rescue Team of the Dartmoor Rescue Group.

Liam Sullivan, from Exeter, had been a member of an organised camping trip to Bridge Reeve, near Chulmleigh. He went missing on Thursday morning during a game of hide-and-seek.

Bud Francis, search manager of the rescue team, said: ?The weather was horrendous. The brook that runs through the middle of the site was in spate and obviously, the fear was that he had been washed away. By Thursday evening, his boots had been found by the edge of the brook, in the water, so things started getting quite desperate.?

The rescue operation involved police divers, the force helicopter, DRG teams from Tavistock and Okehampton and Exmoor rescue group personnel. Dog handlers also joined the search, which took place in a wooded area covering about six square miles.

?The police actually brought in a bloodhound from Hampshire to assist ? everything was launched, it was a very intense operation,? said Mr Francis.

?It was two of our Tavistock group, Rhod Davey and Paul Hudson, who found him at lunchtime on the Friday, under quite a large conifer, which was very good cover from the thermal imaging cameras used by the police in the helicopter.

?He was a very lucky boy ? he was extremely wet and cold. Paul saw him lying on the floor, not moving ? his feet were absolutely blue and he feared the worst. He was so relieved he moved when he touched him,? he said.

Mr Francis said the youngster had actually told his rescuers he had hidden from the helicopter, because he was worried they were searching for a burglar or terrorist.

Liam was airlifted to hospital in Exeter but was released shortly after, none the worse for his frightening ordeal.

Mr Francis said the group was delighted with the successful rescue of Liam.

?It?s a great pay off for all the training we do,? he said.