Nova Scotia Boy, 3, Still Missing After Two Days of Ground, Air Search

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Rescue crews search for a missing three-year-old boy in the waters of the Salmon River in Truro, N.S. on Thursday, May 7, 2020. Dylan Ehler went missing on Wednesday afternoon. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Update:

Police in Truro, N.S., say the search for a missing three-year-old boy is now considered a recovery effort.

In a social media post Thursday evening, Truro police say the decision was made in consultation with Dylan Ehler’s family.

The search for Dylan began Wednesday afternoon and involved police and fire services, search and rescue crews and provincial emergency management staff.

Despite the extensive efforts, police say they haven’t found any new clues or information.


The previous article follows:

Rescue teams continued to comb areas along a riverbank in Truro, N.S., on Thursday as the second day of a search for a missing three-year-old boy continued.

 

The search began shortly after Dylan Ehler disappeared Wednesday afternoon and involves police and fire services, ground search and rescue crews and provincial emergency management staff.

On Thursday, police said the effort is now concentrated near the Salmon River.

In a social media post just after 10:30 a.m., Ehler’s mother said searchers had found her son’s boots.

“Dogs are out, helicopter is up, diving the river. Please help find my baby and bring him home,” Michelle Ash wrote on Facebook.

Later she thanked searchers for their efforts.

“It does give some comfort to know that all of these people who don’t know me or my family are out there looking with every tool they have.”

Police later confirmed the discovery of the boy’s boots.

“The Truro Police Service can confirm that two boots belonging to Dylan were located last evening in the water of Lepper Brook. Dylan’s family was notified of this development and have since shared this information on social media.”

The child was wearing a jacket, with a faux fur hood, camouflage pants and rubber boots at the time of his disappearance.

He was last seen near Queen and Elizabeth Streets in Truro.

 

In a Facebook post, police said Colchester Ground Search and Rescue had been relieved by the Halifax Ground Search and Rescue team.

Department of Natural Resources air support was back on the scene and a provincial dive team has also been called in to assist.

“Truro Police can confirm that foul play does not appear to be a factor in Dylan’s disappearance, and therefore, an Amber Alert has not been issued,” police said.

Police said volunteers from the public are not required because there are enough professional teams on the ground.

Deb Pryor, who lives in the area, was one of dozens of people who helped look for the little boy.

Pryor said she spent about four hours looking in sunny conditions near the river on Wednesday. Conditions have since turned cool and rainy.

“We scoured everything, lots of holes and swamps and tracks, it’s just not an easy place to search,” she said. “The water was running pretty hard.”

Truro Coun. Cathy Hinton represents the ward where the boy went missing.

Hinton said the situation is a lot to process following a number of recent tragedies, including the mass shooting rampage that claimed 22 lives in nearby communities more than two weeks ago and the Canadian Forces helicopter crash off Greece that claimed the life of six people, including Truro native Sub-Lt. Matthew Pyke.

“We’ve had our share of problems the last while and it is difficult,” said Hinton.

“Everyone is very concerned and I think we are a little shell-shocked from all the events that have happened.”

—by Keith Doucette in Halifax

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 7, 2020.

The Canadian Press

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