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Regional RCMP explain efforts made in 30-hour search for Mackenzie boy

George Hazard-Benoit was separated while mother, friend were berry-picking

Northern B.C. Mounties are applauding those who took initiative in the search operation for a missing four-year-old boy.

The North District RCMP has released the information they know about George Hazard-Benoit, who went missing after becoming separated from his mother while she and a friend were berry picking near Lions Lake.

A statement says George was lost for more than 30 hours in the thick dense woods of the area off Highway 39 south of Mackenzie.

He was spotted by an RCMP helicopter, dispatched from Prince George, at 6:43 p.m. last night (Aug. 18), which guided a team to his rescue and was found safe, cold, and wet, but uninjured.

The helicopter landed and carried George to hospital where he was reunited with family.

Hundreds of local residents, volunteers, and Search and Rescue (SAR) crews descended on Lions Lake to help, including the B.C. Wildfire Service, the Mackenzie Fire Department, and RCMP.

“The search was a priority, not only for police, first responders, and SAR, but for the volunteers who dropped what they were doing and joined the search,” said North District RCMP Cpl. Madonna Saunderson in the same release.

Saunderson says when last reported, George was hungry and a little dehydrated, but in good health.

She thanks the SAR teams and volunteers ‘who put their personal lives on hold’ in searching for George this weekend.