RCMP and Search and Rescue Alberta are continuing their efforts to find six-year-old Darius Macdougall as their search is now in day five on Thursday (Sept. 25).
Darius, who went missing while out walking with family, was last seen on Sunday, Sept. 21 about a kilometre from the Island Lake Campground, which is about four kilometres south of Crowsnest Pass. The search area, which is along the B.C.-Alberta border, is in a remote area, police said.
"As of right now, we are still working under the assumption that Darius is alive and the search tempo reflects that," Search and Rescue Alberta provincial training manager Adam Kennedy told media Thursday.
Police have said Darius was with six family members – none of them adults – when he went missing.
Kennedy said search efforts were continuing Thursday "at a very high tempo." The current search radius is four kilometres, with some of the trail searches extending out to eight kilometres.
There are 120 personnel helping from across B.C. and Alberta.
Search crews are also using technology that allows for drone footage to be analyzed by software, searching for anomalies that the human eye may miss, Kennedy said. However, he said, there have been no signs of footprints or anything to suggest where Darius may have gone.
Slaney said at this point in the investigation, there is nothing to believe that foul play is suspected.
"We're still treating him as a missing child right now."
Darius is described as four feet tall, with brown hair. Alberta RCMP have also updated Darius' age to six years old.
He is autistic and may not respond to others. Alberta RCMP Cpl. Gina Slaney said Darius is verbal, "but there are concerns that he might not interact well with people calling out his name."
Kennedy said that Darius' neurodivergence is being taken into consideration during the search. He added loud noises may be startling to the boy, as well as bright lights.
Slaney said search crews are working with the municipality of Crowsnest Pass for people to provide a supports for supplies.
Police added that they're planning for daily news conferences at 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time, unless there are pressing updates.
