Family 'remaining hopeful' as second full day of searching ends for N.L. man

A second full day of searching for a young Roaches Line, N.L., man who went missing as a blizzard intensified in eastern Newfoundland early Friday afternoon has ended without success.

But his father, Wayne Wall, is not losing faith that his son, Josh Wall, 26, will be found alive.

"I'm remaining hopeful. It's another night that he's out there," Wayne told CBC News Sunday evening.

Bay Roberts RCMP, the Avalon North Wolverines Search and Rescue and a CH149 Cormorant from 9 Wing Gander were all part of the search Sunday, along with an RCMP police dog.

The search is expected to resume Monday, though with the added challenge of a weather forecast that shows more snow, up to 15 centimetres, followed by rain showers or drizzle in the morning.

"It is now believed that Joshua may have made it out of the wooded area, where he was walking to get to a friend's home in Marysvale, and back onto Roaches Line," an RCMP press release said Sunday. Roaches Line is a village in the area of Conception Bay North.

"Residents in the general area are asked to search their properties, vehicles, sheds and other outbuildings, in the event Joshua sought shelter there."

Glenda Power, a civilian spokesperson for the RCMP, told CBC on Sunday that attempts were made to search for Wall when he was reported missing, but the blizzard hampered those efforts. 

Police received information that Wall may have taken side roads and trails, she said. A man was seen on Roaches Line yesterday, she said, but it's not been confirmed that it was Wall.

The family is distraught, Power said, and concerned for Wall's safety.

Anyone who has information is asked to call Bay Roberts RCMP at 709-786-2118.

'I'm frantic'

Darkness halted the search for Wall Saturday evening.

"I'm frantic this morning," his mother, Nora Wall, told CBC's Terry Roberts on Sunday.

Search continues for N.L. man missing in blizzard

5 years ago

Duration 5:36

Josh Wall has been missing for almost 48 hours and his mother Nora says she is "frantic."

Her son has not been heard from since 1 p.m. on Friday, just as the storm was intensifying.

Josh went into the woods around 12:30 p.m. on Friday, with plans to walk along a backcountry trail from his family's home on Roaches Line to visit a friend in another Conception Bay community, Marysvale.

His parents said Josh has health issues and is prone to panic attacks.

He messaged his location in the wilderness to his friend in Marysvale around 1 p.m. on Friday, along with a message saying he was lost and that his phone's battery was low on power, said Wayne Wall, Josh's father. 

Wayne said his son was in pain Friday morning and wanted to go to the hospital, but the storm prevented them from travelling.

Josh later told his parents he was going to visit a friend in Marysvale, and decided to leave on foot.

Josh was wearing a heavy winter jacket and a warm hat, mittens and boots. But it's not believed he was wearing snow pants.

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