Police fear that a missing 10-year-old boy who needs medication three times a day for a genetic condition could have fallen into a coma.
Scotland Yard has issued an urgent appeal for help in finding Malakhi Chijiutomi-Ghosh, who has adrenal hyperplasia, which means his adrenal gland is larger than usual.
His father, Manchester-born jazz clarinetist and composer Arun Ghosh, also took to Twitter to ask for help finding Malakhi, who has links to the Thornton Heath, Victoria and Croydon areas of London.
He was last seen on Thornton Heath high street near Croydon on CCTV at 7.30am on Tuesday. But police say a boy matching Malakhi’s description was also seen waiting at a bus stop in Streatham Common at 8am. He may then have boarded a number 250 bus towards Brixton.
His family told officers, who are carrying out searches in Grange Wood Park in Croydon, tracing further CCTV footage and speaking to people who live close to Malakhi’s house, that the 10-year-old “loves trains” and may have headed to a train station.
Ch Supt Andy Tarrant, borough commander for Croydon, said: “We need the public’s help to find Malakhi. His going missing is completely out of character and was unexpected.”
He added: “I would like to reach out to Malakhi and say please get in touch with us. We are worried about you and want to make sure you are OK.
“You are not in trouble. Your mum, dad and brother are really worried about you and want you to come home and make sure you take your medicine.”
Malakhi, who is described by police as being a light-skinned black male and 4ft 7in tall, does not not have a mobile phone, an Oyster travel card or any money with him.
He is of slim build, with short, black curly hair, and is wearing a blue coat and hat with a long-sleeved red-orange top with a picture of a meerkat playing the drums on it.
Anyone who has information on Malakhi’s whereabouts should contact Croydon police immediately by dialling 101.
