Search for Shelburne youth has happy ending

There was a happy ending to the search for a missing 15-year-old male youth earlier this month in Sandy Point, Shelburne County.

Cpl. Chris Marshall said the Shelburne RCMP received the report of a missing person in Sandy Point shortly after 7 p.m. on Feb. 3. The person had gone for a hike earlier in the day and became lost in the woods.

“Ground Search and Rescue teams were activated, along with the local fire department, and a search for the missing youth was undertaken. Shortly after 1 a.m. on Feb. 4, the youth was located in the woods," said Cpl Marshall. "He was transported out of the woods and turned over to EHS for assessment."

Members of the Barrington Ground Search and Rescue (BGS&R), Queens Search and Rescue, the Shelburne Fire Department, the RCMP, EHS and staff from Nova Scotia Forestry were among the responders for the search, said Paul Hayes, president of Barrington Ground Search and Rescue.

“It was really nice to see all the units working together as a team and the result, we were successful,” said Hayes. “The young guy was found.”

Hayes noted ground search and rescue teams fall under umbrella of the RCMP and are dispatched by them.

“We can get a call anytime night or day,” he said, estimating the BGS&R team responded to five or six missing person calls last year. Hayes said BGS&R is always looking for members.

“We need youth and younger people to get involved. We have a pretty extensive training program for people wanting to become members.”

Members are volunteers, and living in a sea community not everybody can get out when a call comes in, said Hayes, making it crucial to have a solid membership numbers. “A lot of our members are fishermen or work in the industry,” he said. BGS&R covers all of Shelburne County.

Hayes offers some tips of what to do and what not to do if someone gets lost in the woods.

“The biggest thing, even when we were kids – my dad always told me – tell (someone) where you are going. If you decide to venture off on a hike it doesn't matter how old you are, if you're going to be gone for some time tell someone. Always tell somebody. It's like a travel plan,” he said.

“When you venture out, look at the conditions you are going out in. Is it wet or cold? Make sure your dressed for weather conditions.”

Hayes said when going on as hike always carry the basic essentials, such as a compass, a source of fire, a jackknife, a flashlight, an emergency blanket, water and snacks.

“Should you become lost or turned around at least you've got something that will help you,” he said.

For people with cell phones, make sure it is charged up. If you get turned around or lost call somebody. The call can be pinged, giving the location of the call.

“That helps us gives us the last known location of that individual. It gives us a start point. If you do get lost, stay put. Emergency service will come and get you," he said. "Wandering only endangers you to further injuries or predators.”