Creston RCMP are praising the coordinated efforts of local residents, search and rescue volunteers, and specialized police resources after a vulnerable missing senior was safely located Tuesday evening in a rural area south of Creston.
Police say the man, whose name, age, and gender were not disclosed, was reported missing around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The person had gone missing from a large rural property earlier in the afternoon.
Initial searches by family and area residents were conducted before police arrived. As daylight faded and overnight temperatures were expected to approach freezing, RCMP say they quickly escalated the response due to concerns for the senior’s safety.
Police say officers immediately identified the need for additional specialized resources, including local search and rescue volunteers, a drone team utilizing thermal imaging technology, and the RCMP police dog service from Castlegar.
Despite the challenging terrain and darkness, officers and searchers continued their efforts throughout the evening, a police news release said.
At about 9 p.m., an RCMP police dog service officer located the missing senior approximately one mile from where they were last seen. The senior was found inside a travel trailer on a nearby rural property and needed immediate medical attention.
BC Emergency Health Services took the senior to hospital for assessment and treatment.
“This was an excellent example of the dedication and professionalism our officers bring to protecting vulnerable people in our communities,” said Creston RCMP Cpl. Rick Goodwin.
“Our officers immediately recognized the urgency of the situation and coordinated a significant search effort alongside search and rescue volunteers, drone specialists, and police dog service. The determination of everyone involved, particularly the persistence of frontline officers and the specialized capabilities of police dog service, ultimately led to the senior being located and receiving the medical care they urgently required.”
RCMP thanked all agencies and volunteers who helped in the search.
