Searchers from Saskatchewan join effort to find missing Alberta boy

RCMP as well as search and rescue have been combing through an area around Crowsnest Pass since Sunday trying to find a missing young boy.

Search efforts for six-year-old Darius Macdougall now include people from three provinces.

The young boy went missing in the southern Alberta wilderness on Sunday.

Macdougall and six family members left their campsite at the Island Lake Campground, about four kilometres south of Crowsnest Pass, to go for a walk.

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When the group returned to the campsite, Macdougall wasn’t with them.

Officials say family searched for him for about an hour before calling emergency crews at 11:30 a.m.

Friday marked the sixth day of search efforts.

In an update, Adam Kennedy from the Search and Rescue Association of Alberta (SAR) said while the organization previously had members from both Alberta and British Columbia involved in the search, people from Saskatchewan have now joined them.

“As searchers push into previously unsearched areas, there is a consideration of the resources required. The current average search radius is about five kilometres, with some searches extending out to approximately 10 kilometres,” he said.

“A total surface area of approximately seven square kilometres has been thoroughly searched multiple times.”

Search to continue this weekend

Kennedy said search efforts are expected to be “ramped up” over the weekend.

“We’ve asked for all available resources across British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan,” he said, adding that they “aren’t giving up hope.”

“Humans can go quite some time without food. There is plenty of water in the area, there’s quite a few (bodies of water) in the area.”

RCMP Cpl. Gina Slaney said there are still “no plans” to start scaling back on the search.

The search teams are also being aided by drones with thermal imaging, dogs and helicopters.

RCMP say Macdougall has autism, and while verbal, may not respond to rescuers calling out his name.

Community support Centre

On Friday, Slaney announced the creation of a “Crowsnest Pass community support centre,” which has been set up at the curling rink in Blairmore.

“The purpose of this centre is to have a place where concerned community members can come to support one another,” she said. “These centres foster a sense of belonging and connection.”

It will be open until 5 p.m. Friday.