UPDATE: Kamloops teen spent the night outside after getting lost

RCMP and search and rescue crews then began the lengthy search effort that stretched to today’s happy conclusion.

The tears were flowing as Carson stepped off the helicopter after a night out on the mountain.

“Tears. Just thankful, thank-you to everyone, (Search and) Rescue and stuff for finding him,” said family friend Chad Yanciw. “Because it gets cold up here at night, I can only imagine how he was feeling.”

Search and rescue members had been out at Sun Peaks for hours, scouring the mountain for any sign of the young snowboarder.

“We have teams that have been out all night and most of today and they’re exhausted, but they’re absolutely elated as well. Everybody’s very excited,” said Kamloops Search and Rescue volunteer search manager Alan Hobler.

After a day of snowboarding, Carson was expected back on the shuttle to Kamloops Sunday afternoon. When he didn’t show up, Search and Rescue and Kamloops RCMP were dispatched to the mountain.

“It definitely happens when people are out in the mountains, take a wrong turn, get lost get a little bit disoriented. It usually ends up having very positive results in the end,” Aidan Kelly of Sun Peaks Resort told CFJC Today. “We’ve got a number of professional people here, both in-house and external.”

While stationed at the Sun Peaks Community Health Centre, search and rescue crews were approached by numerous individuals looking to get involved in the search.

“Obviously it’s super sad, hopefully we can find him, he’s been missing since yesterday so we’re just going to try our best,” said volunteer Ross Lawson. “If I was his family, obviously I’d want as many people to help out, so that’s why I’m doing it.”

Kelly Brooks also stepped up to volunteer.

“That’s pretty normal human instinct to have compassion for your kids; [you’ve] got to figure out what’s going on. I’d feel horrible if mine was lost, it would be devastating,” said Brooks.

The search was extensive, involving three separate search and rescue crews and RCMP.

“They were using drones and on foot and snowmobiles and then luckily this morning, just after 11:00, a plane with Search and Rescue spotted tracks going into a shed and not coming out,” said Cpl. Jodi Shelkie of Kamloops RCMP. “This shed is on the backside of Sun Peaks.”

According to RCMP, Carson attempted to get into the shed but was unable to. He spent the night outside but remained nearby.

“He was found safe and sound in pretty good spirits. Pretty hungry and cold apparently, but he was glad to be found and he did exactly the right thing by staying at the shed and waiting for someone to come find him,” said Shelkie.

by Jill Sperling

UPDATE: Kamloops teen spent the night outside after getting lost

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