Image Credit: Simpcw First Nation facebook

By Dave Barry

Missing Hunters Found

Simpcw hunters missing overnight found safe

Nov 22, 2020 | 11:13 AM

KAMLOOPS – There is relief in the Simpcw First Nation following the successful search efforts to locate two missing people who spent the night in the woods.

Simpcw elder Paul Celesta and his hunting partner Will Smith left for a hunting trip Saturday morning in the Barriere area. When they failed to return Saturday night, a search began.

Dozens of members of the Simpcw First Nation began the search immediately. They were joined by Search and Rescue members of the Barriere, Kamloops, Shuswap and Wells Gray Search and Rescue teams along with the RCMP.

Through the coordinated efforts of approximately 120 people, the two missing men were found safely along the Darlington Creek Forest Service Road northwest of Barriere Sunday morning.

Ron Lampreau, the head of the Simpcw Emergency Operations Centre says the two ran into trouble when their pickup truck broke down Saturday afternoon. “They started a big fire and stayed warm in their truck until they ran out of fuel,” said Lampreau.

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They were walking out along the road when they were spotted Sunday morning shortly before 10:00am. Both men are in good condition.

Lampreau says the hunters played a key role in making the search successful by following a golden rule for anyone going into the backcountry. “They informed their family members of where they were going,” said Lampreau. “And that’s what we would encourage anybody heading out hunting to do anything in the back-country.”