A southern Alberta couple who were the subject of a two-province search were found safe Tuesday in a rural area of southeast British Columbia.
RCMP Insp. Joe McGeough of the detachment in Fort Macleod, Alta., said everyone was relieved at the story’s happy ending.
Jake and Anja Oosterwijk had not been heard from since leaving their home near Fort Macleod on Saturday for a quick trip into B.C.
The couple’s seven children, who are between the ages of six and 22, became concerned, saying that the disappearance was out of character for their parents.
Foul play was not suspected, but there were concerns that with recent snow in the area, the couple might have gotten into a pickle, which is exactly what happened.
“They’d gotten stuck and walked to a cabin nearby,” explained McGeough. “A third party got a radio signal of somebody that was asking for help. We dispatched people to the area, found them and dispatched a helicopter to go get them.”
Jake had an injured knee, but the couple were otherwise OK. They were taken to hospital as a precaution.
“We were lucky enough to be able to tell the family right away,” said McGeough.
Their daughter Gerdine Oosterwijk said she was thankful to all the volunteers who had been out looking for her parents.
Search and rescue crews from both B.C. and Alberta had been looking on land and by air.