The search for a six-year-old boy who went missing on Sunday in the Crowsnest Pass area, about 250 kilometres south of Calgary, has entered its third day.
In a brief written update provided on Tuesday morning, RCMP Cpl. Gina Slaney said searchers continued to look for Darius Macdougall overnight, but unfortunately, they were unable to locate him.
Dozens of search crews from multiple agencies in both Alberta and British Columbia are back out Tuesday morning, with the help of search dogs, helicopters and drones scouring the area, near Island Lake Campground, about four kilometres south of Crowsnest Pass.
Some of the drones and helicopters that searchers are using are also equipped with thermal imaging to allow them to be used overnight.
The missing boy was last seen walking with other children in his family on Sunday morning.
But when the children returned to their campsite, the little boy was not with them.
RCMP Sgt. Mark Amatto said family members, who are from the Fort Macleod and Lethbridge areas, immediately contacted police and a search was initiated.
Amatto said the boy has autism, which affects his ability to respond to searchers.
“The terrain is alpine mountainous terrain. It is very technical,” said Amatto. “There are multiple creeks and rivers at play including some beaver dams. Due to the complexity of that terrain we need to make sure that we take our time and thoroughly go through.”
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“Right now all resources are in play to bring this little guy home.”
Police have also released a photo of the missing boy who is described as four feet tall with short brown hair, wearing a blue/grey hoodie and sweatpants.
Peter Alfred, search manager with Southwest Alberta Search and Rescue, said searchers have been working shoulder to shoulder, checking under logs and trees and along the shoreline of rivers and other waterways in the area.
While searchers are asking members of the public to keep an eye out for the little boy, they’re also requesting that people avoid the immediate area to give search crews room to work.
“At this time, due to the technical nature of the search we are conducting, it is best done with trained ground SAR members,” said Alfred.
“Also given the terrain we’re involved in, if a member of the public were to be out and gets injured, then we need to stop all search and rescue activities and deal with that injured person before we can continue.”
Despite the time that has passed since the boy disappeared, searchers remain optimistic.
“We are very confident about a positive outcome,” said Alfred. “The weather is in our favour. The young man does not suffer from any (other) health issues. There is no reason to believe that there will not be a positive outcome.”
RCMP are asking anyone who has had contact with him or may have seen him to call the Crowsnest RCMP at 403-562-2866.
Tips can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers online, by calling 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or by downloading the Crime Stoppers app (P3 Tips) from the app store.
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