09/26/2025
๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ: ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฏ ๐ฅ๐๐ด๐ด๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ผ๐๐ด๐ฎ๐น๐น
The search for six-year-old Darius Macdougall, who vanished during a family camping trip near Island Lake Campground, just south of Crowsnest Pass, is now into its fifth day. Despite challenging terrain and cold nights, searchers remain determined and hopeful.
On Sunday, Darius had been walking with five other young family members when he became separated from the group. When the others returned to the campsite, Darius wasnโt with them. Since then, over 120 searchers from both Alberta and British Columbia have been working tirelessly to bring him home.
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How the Search is Evolving
Adam Kennedy from Alberta Search and Rescue explained that crews are focusing on a 4 km radius around the campsite, with some searches extending up to 8 km along nearby trails. The terrain is extremely difficult โ dense forests, steep mountainous slopes, rivers, lakes, and boggy areas โ forcing searchers to work almost shoulder to shoulder to cover every inch of ground.
Because Darius is autistic, or neurodivergent, the search is being handled with extra care. Loud noises and bright lights are avoided so as not to startle him. Instead, searchers are using one of Dariusโ favorite songs, played softly both on the ground and from drones flying overhead, hoping the familiar sound will gently draw him out.
Additional resources include search dogs, ATVs, helicopters, and drones, and thereโs now a request for some crews to join the search on horseback. Cutting-edge software is also being used to analyze aerial footage, scanning for tiny anomalies the human eye might miss.
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Weather Concerns and Survival Outlook
Overnight temperatures in the search area have dropped to around 3ยฐC, which raises concerns about hypothermia. Wilderness expert Brent Koinberg says survival chances are much higher as long as temperatures stay above freezing and wind exposure is minimized.
Fortunately, the area has plentiful natural water sources, and Koinberg believes this gives Darius a better chance:
โItโs instinct โ when weโre thirsty, we look for water. Thereโs lots of water around, and that could make all the difference.โ
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No Plans to Scale Back
With no confirmed sightings yet, RCMP officials were asked if thereโs been any discussion of scaling back the search.
RCMP Cpl. Gina Slaney was clear:
โThere is no current plan to scale back. We are going to do everything we can to find Darius.โ
Kennedy added that the search continues under the assumption Darius is alive and can be found:
โAs of right now, we are still working on the assumption that Darius is alive and the search tempo reflects that.โ
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Our hearts are with Darius, his family, and every volunteer and professional braving the elements to bring him home.
