Tear-jerking moment non-verbal six-year-old who was lost in the forest for three days is reunited with her mother
A six-year-old girl who was unable to speak and lost in the Canadian forest for three days was reunited with her parents in a heartwarming moment captured on video.
Oaklynn Schweder, who has been described by her family as autistic and non-verbal, was found just after 6 p.m. Sunday in a wooded area between her British Columbia home and the Skin Tyee First Nation Band office, Kelowna Now reports.
She was last seen outside her home at 6pm on 19 September, prompting a massive search involving drones, helicopters and police dogs. The young girl was left alone for three days. according to Prince George Citizen.
It is now believed that Schweder, who according to her family likes to crawl into small spaces, was walking around at the time she went missing.
On Sunday evening, video finally emerged showing Schweder’s parents, Gail Skin and James Schweder, running into a wooded area and Skin holding their young child in her arms as she screamed and cried, “Baby!”
Oaklynn Schweder, who has been described by her family as autistic and non-verbal, was found just after 6 p.m. Sunday after disappearing three days earlier.
The video shows Schweder’s parents, Gail Skin and James Schweder, running into a wooded area and Skin taking their young child in her arms
The couple later emerged from the woods into a clearing, where volunteers wrapped Oaklynn in a blanket as they cheered and applauded the girl’s discovery and hugged her parents.
Schweder appeared to have no visible injuries but was taken to Burns Lake Hospital for further medical evaluation while members of the Skin Tyee Nation gave her gifts and played traditional music, according to Castanet.
βThis is the outcome we were all hoping for,β said Staff Sergeant Joshua Smith, commander of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment in Burns Lake.
He added that “everyone who searched remained determined to bring her home safely.
βWe are grateful for the support of all our partner organizations and volunteers who worked day and night to achieve this result.β
Schweder appeared to have no visible injuries but was taken to Burns Lake Hospital for further medical evaluation
Volunteers cheered as the young girl was brought to safety Sunday evening
More than 600 volunteers joined police, British Columbia Wildlife Service and Search and Rescue teams in the multi-day search for Oaklynn, which began Friday evening.
The Skin Tyee First Nation Band, of which Schweder is a member, also helped coordinate volunteers and provide food and shelter, This was reported by the National Post.
‘The community really came together and helped with sharing information, feeding and housing volunteers, transportation, parking in the city and [providing] βA gathering place,β Burns Lake SAR said in a Facebook post.
Schweder’s parents also expressed their gratitude in their own social media posts to everyone who had helped find their daughter.
“Oh my God I can’t believe it. Our daughter is now home safe and sound. I am so happy,” James Schweder wrote on Monday.
Members of the Skin Tyee Nation gave Schweder gifts and played traditional music when she was found
‘I also can’t believe how much support and love we received from the various agencies and volunteers who helped us during these dark times.
βI can’t thank everyone enough for their help and support over the last few days,β he added.
Skin said her daughter was sleeping peacefully.
“I look at my baby girl and see her sleeping. I am so thankful she is next to me,” she wrote.
‘Thanks again to everyone who helped in any way [to bring] ‘My girl at home.’
In a separate post, she shared that given the ordeal she’s been through, Oaklynn is “going to have the biggest birthday party.”
She will be seven on September 30th.