Officers find missing teen just in time

File 20-35

A missing teenager reported to Delta Police at 4:30 am on January 1 was found by determined officers later that morning, after extensive searching.

Thanks to an app on the teen’s phone, accessed by a friend, police were able to locate the teen before hypothermia became too severe.

The app had indicated the teen was likely in the Burns Bog area. Police started searching for the teen right away, but couldn’t locate them.

“Around 6:30 am Jan. 1 one of my patrol constables and our new recruit began searching in a different area, where the bog was extremely dark and foggy. The area was covered in deep puddles and thick brush, which made the search very challenging,” notes Staff Sergeant Brian Hill, head of the platoon that led the search.

The officers finally located the teen laying about 50 metres off a trail, unconscious and in need of urgent medical assistance. They were taken immediately to hospital, where family and friends were able to be reunited with them.

“Burns Bog is a challenging area to search for missing persons in ideal conditions – and conditions that morning were far from ideal,” says S/Sgt. Hill. “I’m really proud of our officers for their initiative and perseverance in very challenging and uncomfortable conditions. Their efforts saved a life.”