Stephen Otte, who has autism and ADHD, ran off during a hike with his father and two younger siblings at Poppethead Park.

Community members volunteered to join police and the Cessnock District Rescue Squad in the hour-long search effort.

Stephen said he was crying in the bush when a group of teenage boys camping in the area found him in the reserve.

His mother Belinda Pagett said she feared the worst when her son went missing, naming snakes, abduction, drowning in the dam and falling into the mine pits as her biggest concerns.

“If he fell into one of those mine holes we worried that we would never find him,” Ms Pagett said.

“He was found with a few scratches from the branches and he lost his pair of thongs but that’s it.

“We can put up with lost thongs as long as he’s okay!”

Stephen’s grandmother Coreana Flanagan added that she was blown away by the generosity of the community during the frightening incident.

“We just want to say thanks for everyone’s help,” Ms Flanagan said.

“Police, ambos, even total strangers offered to help… it is unbelievable how the community came together.”