Hundreds search for boy swept up in river
Hundreds of people are spending their Easter long weekend searching for a missing boy from a small southern Ontario community who was swept away in the Grand River during a recent flood.
Searchers from several nearby communities have been congregating just outside Orangeville, Ont., every day for the last six weeks to walk alongside the river and search for the body of Kaden Young.
The three-year-old was in the family van in the early hours of Feb. 21 when the vehicle was swallowed up by the fast-moving river.
His mother managed to get the boy out of the van, but lost her grip in the strong current and he was swept downstream.
Richard Croft, a local towtruck driver who is co-ordinating the civilian search effort, said that an average day could bring anywhere from 20 to 50 searchers, but around 200 people showed up on Good Friday alone.
Croft said around 100 people turned out to the search on Saturday, and he expected even more on Sunday.
The increased numbers help, Croft said, especially at a time when the transitioning weather makes conditions difficult.
“It’s very tough out there no matter what. But with the warmer weather, the ground is getting softer, so it’s getting slippery,” said Croft of the muddy conditions.
“It’s a slow process because we have to make sure we’re safe ourselves.”
Beyond the physical toll, Croft said that the search is taking an emotional toll on everyone involved as well.
“It’s tough, it’s very hard,” said Croft.
“We go out there with high spirits. We come back not so high because our goal has not been accomplished. We know we’re getting closer, we’re just not quite there yet, but we know we’ll get there.”
Among the daily searchers, Croft says there’s a group of around 20 who have come out nearly every day since Kaden went missing.
Croft said that there is a plan in place that includes emotional support for when Kaden’s body is actually found.
Meanwhile, Ontario Provincial Police say their own search operation is dependent on weather, and more resources will be available as conditions improve.
“We’re intending to bring our dive team back and our helicopter.”