A family who found a young boy wandering in Dublin city centre on Christmas Eve feared he was lost like in Home Alone.
Five-year-old Jack got separated from his mum Naomi the day before Christmas, sparking frantic searches as shoppers scoured the streets for him.
Amazingly, he was luckily found by a loving mum-of-three, Elaine, but amid the shock and the tears, the two mums did not get to speak about the ordeal.
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Naomi told Ryan Tubridy on RTE radio last Friday how her husband Ian rang gardai after Jack suddenly vanished in the traumatic disappearance.
She said: “We were so emotional when we found him that we didn’t get the full story.”
Elaine today revealed to Ryan how they found Jack and saved Christmas for his family in a mini festive miracle.
She found the schoolboy near Grafton Street and said: “I was listening [on the radio] to Naomi talk about Jack going missing on Christmas Eve.
“We are the family that found Jack on Suffolk Street.
“I know Naomi mentioned that she was not sure of exactly what happened because she was in shock and we were in tears.
“On Christmas Eve, we were all crying when we got Jack reunited with his family.
“Our kids really felt so upset for Jack’s sister. Both of them were so emotional.
“Naomi was correct about the goodwill of so many people in town that evening.
“They were all looking for an adorable little boy with a red Santa hat and blue jacket. So many people stopped us on our walk up to Eason’s [bookstore].
“We’ve been thinking about Jack’s mum and dad all over Christmas and hoping that they managed to get over the shock of Christmas Eve.
“On Christmas morning, we wondered if Jack got his Hot Wheels [toy car set] that he told us that he was asking Santa for.
“My kids kept saying that it was like the movie Home Alone.”
Parents Naomi and Ian went shopping with kids Beth, 11, Hannah Rose, 8, and youngest child Jack when the Christmas Eve nightmare unfolded.
Naomi said: “Jack was nowhere to be seen and no-one had seen him leave the store.”
She added: “The fear was the worst part. I was running in and out of shops calling his name. It may have only lasted for a few minutes, but it felt like forever.”
Jack was thankfully found safe and well by Elaine and her kids and dad Alan, Grace, Olivia and Evan.
Elaine said: “The incident has made my three children much more alert when we are out and, hopefully, they will stay close when we are in crowds.”
Tubridy, 50, said: “Well done Elaine, Alan, Grace, Olivia and Evan. It is a lovely story. Like you say, it’s the kindness of strangers.”
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