9 Year Old Found Alive and Well After Cold Night Outdoors

On Saturday night, at around 6:20 p.m., Oceanside RCMP received a report of a missing 9 year old boy in the Englishmen River Provincial Park, located 13 kilometers Southwest of Parksville, on Vancouver Island.

The boy was in the park for the day, with a group of family friends, including two adults, and two other children. They were hiking from the lower bridge area to the upper bridge area, along a marked trail. The missing boy was walking parallel to the marked trail, a short distance away from the group. After realizing that the boy was no longer with the group, they began a search, which lasted for approximately one hour, before police were alerted.

The RCMP, and Arrowsmith Search and Rescue, with the support of BC Parks Staff, and the BC Ambulance Service, searched on the ground throughout the evening, and overnight. No trace of the boy was found. Search resources were bolstered this morning with the addition of the RCMP Air Services helicopter from Comox.

At about 9:15 a.m. this morning, the boy was located off a logging road, approximately five kilometers from where he was last seen. He was discovered by a local resident, out for a bike ride with her dog. The boy was treated by BC Ambulance Service Paramedics for mild hypothermia, and reunited with his relieved parents. Temperatures overnight in the park dropped into the single digits. The boy was wearing only shorts and t-shirt.

Good Advice Could Save A Life

"Parents should take this opportunity to speak with their children about how they would handle being lost. Teach your children that when they realize they are lost or separated from their group, to stay put, call out for help, and to remain calm. It is extremely easy for a child to become disoriented in the wilderness. To arm your children with this simple bit of knowledge, could save their life.", says Cpl. Darren Lagan of the Vancouver Island RCMP.

Police extend their thanks to the men and women of the Arrowsmith Search and Rescue Team, the staff at Englishmen River Provincial Park, and local residents for their commendable efforts throughout this search.