RCMP have located safely a missing family who were travelling from Ontario to Hinton for a wedding.
David Hill, 33, daughter Sierra, 10, and son Riley, 8, left Edmonton International Airport on Friday, October 9 for a family wedding Saturday morning – but failed to arrive.
According to police, the travellers became lost in a wooded area and have since reported themselves to family and RCMP – safe and uninjured.
Just after 3 a.m. Sunday morning Hinton RCMP issued a plea for help from the public as they conducted a “full search” for the family.
RCMP said they were “very concerned about the delay” as David was taking prescription medication that can cause drowsiness and Riley is insulin dependent.
"I looked for a gravel road where I could just pull off and close my eyes for five minutes," Hill told CTV News.
"We slept for about an hour, woke up and I couldn't find anything else," he explained.
According to the Ontario man, he attempted to call his mother and sister-in-law Saturday morning, but cell reception was spotty.
"Oh it was a panic, we didn't sleep," he said.
Prior to the family being found by a passing motorist, police said a ping from a cell phone last placed them in the area of Obed, Alberta – located about 50 kilometres west of Edson.
RCMP focused the search on the areas between Hinton and Edson, north and south of Highway 16.
"At one point, we actually had the helicopter go right over us," Hill explained.
RCMP are reminding travellers to plan their routes carefully and to not hesitate to ask for directions.
With files from Josh Skurnik
