After three stressful, frightening days of searching, it was all smiles, cheers and applause in the northern BC community of Southside on Sunday night.
Shortly after 6 pm, six-year-old Oaklynn Schweder was found in a forested area between her home and the local Indian Band office.
S/Sgt. Joshua Smith with the Burns Lake RCMP called it “the outcome that we all hoped for.”
The multi-day search for Schweder drew attention from all over the province and beyond, and its positive conclusion Sunday evening was caught on video.
Melissa Tom Dyck posted the footage to a Facebook group dedicated to the search efforts and it has already been shared over 10,000 times.
It shows the young girl’s mother, Gail Skin, and others rushing into the forested area as Schweder is found.
Moments later, an emotional Skin emerges from the woods with her daughter in her arms, father James close behind.
As the three of them emerge from the brush, they’re met with a round of cheers, applause and hugs from dozens of searchers in the area.
Schweder was eventually handed over to paramedics to be checked and Skin provided a pair of updates on Facebook live.
In another post, Skin shared photos of her daughter and said her “heart is so happy it could burst.”
“I’m sitting looking at my baby girl watching her sleep and I am just so grateful she’s here beside me,” Skin wrote. “Thank you again to everyone who helped in any way for helping (to bring) my girl back home.”
She also shared in a separate Facebook post that Schweder “will be having the biggest birthday party” after the ordeal she just went through.
Schweder will turn seven on Monday, Sept. 30, which is also Truth and Reconciliation Day.
Lonely-Pea-9753 on September 23rd, 2024 at 15:56 UTC »
Stories about autistic kids going missing are in the news constantly. They often do not have happy endings. As a mom of a nonverbal child I’m over here crying happy tears for this mom. It’s hard to think about what she has been through.
FinLitenHumla on September 23rd, 2024 at 15:37 UTC »
Three days, holy moly she'd have to be thirsty.
LisFrizzle on September 23rd, 2024 at 15:18 UTC »
6-year old Oaklynn had been missing for 3 nights in northern BC since Sept 19th. Last night just after 6pm she was found by a volunteer search and rescue group.
The area she went missing is heavily forested and surrounded by a big lake. There was potential for animals, low overnight temperatures or of course a drowning to take her.
I'm honestly shocked they found her alive. Haven't been able to stop thinking about this story since she was reported missing. This is the best outcome and I'm just so incredibly happy.