Canadian Rangers Find Missing Boy in North Caribou Lake

THUNDER BAY – Two Canadian Rangers found a 15-year-old North Caribou Lake youth after he had been missing for more than 10 hours.

The boy was last seen shortly before midnight on Wednesday when he drove a truck to drop off several of his friends at their homes. The vehicle was known to have only a quarter tank of gasoline. The temperature with wind chill was -35C.

Concerned relatives and members of the band council asked the Canadian Rangers in the community to assist them in an overnight search for the boy.

Because the youth’s life might be at risk the Canadian Army authorized the Rangers to join the search.

Master Corporals Kris Chikane and Theoren Chikane spent several hours searching local roads without any success. The army authorized them to extend their search outside the community and they drove on the winter road towards Muskrat Dam.

“The wind was blowing and there was heavy drifting on the road,” said MCpl Kris Chikane. “We  found him around 10 o’clock in the morning. He was stuck in a drift by the side of the road. He had some gas left and his engine was still running but he had started a small fire outside his truck. He told us he decided to go for a drive after dropping off his friends. Instead, he got stuck in the snow.

“He wasn’t hurt and he was pretty glad to see us. He didn’t know there were so many people looking for him. When we got him back to the community everyone was very pleased and relieved to see us.”

Ranger Selena Benson also participated in the search, driving with a relative of the missing boy.

“This was a good outcome,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Matthew Richardson, commanding officer of the 3rd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group. “Once again we met our mission in helping the people of the North.  The Rangers used their initiative and did a great job.”

Sgt. Peter Moon

(Sergeant Peter Moon is the public affairs ranger for 3rd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group at Canadian Armed Forces Base Borden.)