James Maloney, a former rugby league star, has faced one of any parent's worst nightmares when his son, Kade, aged 14, went missing over the weekend. Fortunately, after several hours of distress and a public appeal for help, Kade has been found safe and well.
The search began late on Saturday night when Kade was last seen at Green Point outside Gosford at about 10 p.m. This sparked immediate concern among his family, who quickly feared for his welfare. According to his mother Jess, Kade had purchased a train ticket at 1:51 a.m. on Sunday, which led them to believe he might be heading toward Penrith.
Desperate to locate their son, Jess took to Instagram early Monday morning to inform the public of Kade's situation. "He is now safe with our friends. Thank you to everyone who has helped to find him, offered support, and shared this post to get it out to as many people as possible," she wrote. This heartfelt message brought relief to many who had begun to fear the worst.
Prior to Kade's discovery, the family's plea for information about his whereabouts was echoed by the New South Wales Police, who also took to social media to engage the public's help. They released details about Kade, describing him as approximately 170 cm tall with short light brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and dark blue shorts bearing the logo of the North Queensland Cowboys, and carrying a black bag.
Police urged anyone who might have seen Kade or who had any information to contact Crime Stoppers. This public appeal was met with immediate assistance from the local community, highlighting the concern and care shared among the public during such distressing times.
This incident drew considerable attention not just due to the Maloney family's prominence, as James is well known within the rugby league community for playing over 300 NRL matches and winning two premierships, but also because of the heartfelt nature of the search and the call for community support. Fellow NRL community members, including star Nathan Cleary, showed their solidarity by reposting the family's pleas on social media.
Throughout the search, the Maloney family expressed their fears about Kade's well-being, emphasizing how unusual his disappearance was for someone described as being well-adjusted and healthy. "We are desperate to know he’s OK and if he doesn’t want us to know exactly where he is, that's OK; we just desperately want to know he is safe," Jess stated, conveying both the urgency and the emotional turmoil the family was experiencing.
After the police initiated operations to locate Kade, it became clear they were treating the situation with the utmost seriousness. Officers from the Brisbane Water Police District began their inquiries immediately upon notification of his absence.
Finally, early on Monday morning, news broke confirming Kade had been located and was safe with friends. This news was met with widespread relief not only from his family but from the wider community who had rallied around the Moloney family during their search.
The incident serves as a reminder of the strong community bonds and the spirit of cooperation faced with adversity. For the Maloney family, though the moments of uncertainty were undoubtedly challenging, the outcome was one for which they could have only hoped, showcasing how community and family support can make all the difference.
Having been found safely, the family can now breathe easier, knowing Kade is back with loved ones. This chapter, frightening as it was, underscored the importance of public communication and community involvement when it matters most.
