An RCMP search for missing youths has ended after 4 teens went tubing down the Shell River.
On July 28, at approximately 11:50 pm, Prairie Mountain RCMP received a report of four missing youths, aged 16 and 17.
RCMP located one of the youth’s vehicles at Inglis Beach and one of the other youth’s vehicles on Provincial Road 589 at the bridge.
It was believed they would have started tubing at Provincial Road 589 with the goal being to end up at Inglis Beach. The youths had not been heard from since 2:00 pm that day.
Searchers with RCMP and local fire attended as did Emergency Medical Services.
Local crop planes circled the area, local farmers on ATVs assisted, the fire department had their boat in the water, RCMP divers, RCMP Police Dog Services, RCMP Search and Rescue, and the Office of the Fire Commissioner were en route, and the RCMP drone was up in the air.
At approximately 4:00 am, the drone located three youths along the river through thermal imaging.
They were not physically injured, but The fourth youth, a 16-year-old female, was still missing.
The drone found the deflated pink flamingo tube she had been using, about a kilometer up the river from where the others were located.
The fourth teen was located with minor injuries 4 and a half hours later. None of them were wearing life jackets, and alcohol appears to have been involved.
Corporal Brett Church of the Prairie Mountain RCMP “This ended much better than it could have," noting that a floatie won't save you like a life jacket can.
