(CNN) -- A seven-year-old boy who spent a winter's night lost in chilly conditions in the Australian bush says a friendly kangaroo is the reason he survived. South Australian police said Simon Kruger went missing in the Deep Creek Conservation Park, south of Adelaide, after wandering away from a family picnic shortly after 1.15pm Saturday. A search party of about 40, including two rescue helicopters, was mobilized to locate Simon, who was wearing just a fleece top and track pants and was not equipped for a night in the elements. The search party continued their efforts through the night, operating using parachute flares, before a rescue helicopter spotted him about 500 meters from where he had gone missing nearly 24 hours earlier.
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Boy, 7, says kangaroo helped him survive a chilly night in the Australian bush
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He says he went missing from a family picnic after a kangaroo ate flowers he was picking
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He spent nearly 24 hours lost in in bush while a search party looked for him
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His father said the kangaroo was "a gift from God"
"I think @placeholder sent a kangaroo to keep him warm."