Sparwood Search and Rescue was contacted by the RCMP on the morning of Wednesday, September 7th to assist in locating a 3 year old boy missing from the Black Hawk Drive area of Sparwood Heights. Sparwood SAR, along with Elkford SAR responded and began initial response searches of the area surrounding the house. Shortly after SAR arrived on scene, large numbers of community volunteers began assembling to help with the search effort, and were added to the search teams as the operation progressed.

Soon after, mutual aid was requested from Fernie, Cranbrook, and Kimberley SAR. The Elk Valley Emergency Social Services team was activated to assist in managing the influx of volunteers and to provide food, shelter and logistical support.

As the operation progressed, the RCMP determined the child had in fact been abducted rather than having walked away from his home, and the focus of the search shifted from a ground search of the area around the child's house to a broad search of the backcountry of the Elk Valley and Crowsnest Pass in an attempt to locate the suspected abductor's vehicle or any other evidence.

By the end of the search operation, Search and Rescue resouces had been engaged for 5 days and SAR teams from across British Columbia, and Alberta, had been brought in to assist. Over 60 trained Search and Rescue members and several hundred community volunteers had been involved and the missing child was ultimately returned home unharmed.

Sparwood Search and Rescue would like to thank the many people, groups, and businesses who supported this Search and Rescue operation. From searching to providing food, supplies, accomodation and transportation the community of Sparwood and the surrounding area pulled together in a large way for the common goal of bringing the child home to his family.

A more detailed list of SAR resources, businesses and organizations involved will be released in the coming days in order to properly recognize those who helped bring about a happy ending to the many days of searching.