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Family of Amber-Lee Cruickshank - Source: ONE News -
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A family in New Zealand who know the agony of losing a child have made fresh pleas for the return of Auckland girl Aisling Symes.
Police have increased to 60 the number of officers searching for the two-year-old, who disappeared from outside her late grandparent's home in Longburn Road, Henderson, on Monday evening.
Her parents had been preparing the house to put on the market when their daughter vanished. Angela Symes says she was simply turning off the tap when Aisling went missing and she can't believe the speed with which it all happened.
Talking to Close Up on Friday night the Symes' said they have been questioning themselves as parents and wondering what they could have done to prevent the situation.
Another New Zealand family knows their pain.
Amber-Lee Cruikshank went missing from Kingston, at the base of Lake Wakatipu, 17 years ago next Saturday.
"It has revived old memories, but in saying that you never forget. I mean each day we think of Amber and when something like this happens with Aisling it just brings it all back so clearly," says Kathy, Amber's Nana.
Searchers failed to find any trace of Amber-Lee and she was presumed drowned.
But later police thoughts turned to abduction.
Amber-Lee's mother Nicky is currently nearing the end of a prison term on drugs charges. In a statement to ONE News read by her sister Kim, Nicky wanted to reach out to Aisling's family.
"I am taken back to that frightful day, reliving the same nightmare these people are going through right now. All I want to do is reach out to them to let them know they are not alone and to stay strong and not give up hope no matter what," Nicky said.
However, that's not easy.
"With all my other grandchildren, they're all growing up, it's hard to visualise what Amber would be like now and if we could have Amber back that would be closure for us too," says Kathy.
Next week, the family will light a candle for Amber-Lee, right now their plea for Aisling is simple.
"I beg you return her to her family, that is where she belongs. Not with you. This nightmare has got to end for the sake of everybody. There's just too much trauma involved and it's not fair," says Kathy.
Also offering their support and sympathy to Aisling's family are Madeleine McCanns parents, whose daughter is believed to have been abducted during a Portuguese holiday.
In a statement, the McCanns say their prayers are with Aisling's family and they're hoping for the two-year-old's speedy return.
The McCanns are also urging anyone with information to get in touch with police immediately.
Mrs Symes says she, her husband Alan, and their five-year-old daughter Caitlin have been overwhelmed by the support they have received from everyone.
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