Search efforts are ongoing for a five-year-old boy who went missing near a campground in southern Alberta. Darius Macdougall was last spotted on Sunday morning walking with his family in the vicinity of Crowsnest Pass, close to Island Lake Provincial Recreation Area. The search, involving numerous volunteer search and rescue members from Alberta and British Columbia, utilizing dogs, drones, and foot patrols, will persist through the night.
According to Peter Alfred from Search and Rescue Alberta, Macdougall disappeared while on a walk with his siblings near their campsite. The boy, who is autistic, is described as four feet tall with short brown hair, last seen wearing a blue-grey hoodie and sweatpants. Despite the challenging terrain, officials remain optimistic due to Macdougall’s good health condition.
Sgt. Mark Amatto of Crowsnest Pass RCMP emphasized the importance of following search and rescue protocols to cover the complex terrain thoroughly. While appreciating offers of help from community members, RCMP cautioned against interference with ongoing processes to maintain the search area’s integrity.
The search operation continues with a focus on locating the missing boy and ensuring the search area remains undisturbed to maximize the chances of a positive outcome.