Elk Valley RCMP had help from Fernie and Sparwood Search and Rescue to find a group of four teenage boys who got lost by Mt. Hosmer near Fernie.
Police officials said the missing boys, aged 13 to 18, were reported just before 10 p.m. on Sunday.
According to the report, the group was out looking for antler shed with their hunting dogs. They became separated during the day, resulting in all four of them getting lost.
The boy’s parents knew of the situation and had already started searching for them before contacting the police.
“The boy’s cell phone batteries had begun to fail, so one youth made the call to 911 requesting assistance after being charged at by a mother bear with two cubs,” said RCMP officials.
Fernie and Sparwood Search and Rescue arrived to aid efforts in finding the group.
Police officials said the boys did not plan to stay overnight, so none of them were prepared for the changing conditions.
“At various times in the early morning, starting from around 2 a.m. to 6 a.m., all four boys were found safe and are back with their parents, having either been located or walked out to a location at the bottom of Mt. Hosmer,” said Elk Valley RCMP.
Police said it’s important to be prepared for any situation if you head out into the wilderness.
This includes an adequate supply of food, water and suitable clothes in case of an emergency.
If you do become lost and contact emergency services, officials said it’s important to stay where you are unless you are told otherwise.
“In this case, SAR was able to get a location on one of the young men, but found the boy had moved from that location when the search group got there,” said Elk Valley RCMP. “Elk Valley Regional RCMP are extremely grateful to our Fernie and Sparwood SAR groups for their hard work and dedication as well as for being so quick in response to what could have turned into a terrible event.”
