A missing teenager reported to Delta Police at 4:30 a.m. on January 1 was found by determined officers later that morning, after an extensive search.
Thanks to an app on the teen’s phone, accessed by a friend, police were able to locate the teen before hypothermia became too severe.
The app had indicated the teen was likely in the Burns Bog area. Police started searching right away, but couldn’t locate the teen.
“Around 6:30 a.m. on January 1 one of my patrol constables and our new recruit began searching in a different area, where the bog was extremely dark and foggy. The area was covered in deep puddles and thick brush, which made the search very challenging,” notes Staff-Sgt. Brian Hill, head of the platoon that led the search.
The officers finally located the teen laying about 50 metres off a trail, unconscious and in need of urgent medical assistance. The teen was taken immediately to hospital, where family and friends were able to be reunited with the teen.
“Burns Bog is a challenging area to search for missing persons in ideal conditions – and conditions that morning were far from ideal,” says Hill. “I’m really proud of our officers for their initiative and perseverance in very challenging and uncomfortable conditions. Their efforts saved a life.”