Child Missing in IKEA Found Dead Hours Later

A heartbroken mum has spoken out after discovering her nine-year-old son died after disappearing in an IKEA. Hasebul Nehan was playing with his siblings in the store when his family lost track of him.

The New York family immediately informed the IKEA staff and they began to search the store for the little boy, who was nonverbal and had autism.

Sadly, Hasebul’s body was discovered hours later. The young boy had wandered out of the store through a back door and into a nearby basin where he drowned.

Surveillance footage shows child missing in Ikea leaving the store

Hasebul’s heartbroken mother, Abida Sultan spoke to CBS News about what happened. She explains that the family took a trip to IKEA on Wednesday evening. They had a nanny with them to help keep track of the children while the parents shopped.

“She was watching he just jumping. I told him let him jump a little bit, but watch him. Then suddenly he jump and turn away run away in one minute. We didn’t see,” Abida said.

As soon as they realised Hasebul was missing, they started a frantic search in the store, asking staff to assist. The store was about to close but no one could find the missing boy.

“We looking for the whole Ikea half an hour. I told them look, check the camera, check the camera. I don’t see my son, check the camera,” Abida recalled to CBS News.

Surveillance footage showed Hasebul leaving from the back of the store headed toward the Erie Basin, a body of water located behind the store.

child missing in Ikea in Brooklyn — Brooklyn’s IKEA is located next to the Erie Basin. Source: Bigstock

Police searched the basin for three hours before finding the little boy’s body. Police believe he fell in and wasn’t able to get out or call for help.

Little boy loved the water

A heartbroken Adiba told the media that her little boy adored the water and that she often would take him to rivers and lakes so he could see water.

“He likes to see river. He likes to see ocean. I take him lots of time. Never happened … this never happened,” Abida said.

She had even told her son that they would go and look at the water again after they finished shopping that evening.

“I took him over there, why did I take him over there?” the guilt-striken mum shared.

Hasebul’s brother also shared his sorrow of losing his brother.

“I used to have so much fun with him even though he was autistic, I loved him, I’ll miss him,” Abibul Dehan told ABC 7.

A representative for IKEA shared a statement with the news outlet: “We are devastated by this tragedy. Our hearts are with the family at this difficult time.”

‘Far too common’

Many parents have sent their condolences to the family, completely understanding how a tragedy like this could happen.

One mum wrote,

“I’ve been this mom more times than I care to recount, where your child that’s unable to ask for help suddenly disappears or runs away from you at full speed faster than you can react.

But, I’ve never been the mom who didn’t get him back. This is far too common with autistic nonverbal kids because they’re naturally drawn to water.”

Most of us have experienced that heart-stopping moment when our child disappears, even if it is just for a brief moment. If you ever find your child lost in a crowded area, rather than call their name, consider calling out what they are wearing.

Strangers in the area wouldn’t know what a missing child named “Jacob” looked like. They would, however, be able to identify a missing child wearing a “Batman t-shirt and brown shorts”.

Please see our article on child safety tips for more.