Missing girl, 15, found safe in northern Sask. forest
Missing girl last seen Sunday in a heavily-wooded area 2 hours north of Turnor Lake
After four days lost in the deep forests of northern Saskatchewan, a 15-year-old girl returned home safely Wednesday afternoon.
Without shoes, water or food, Sabrina Montgrand returned home to the Birch Narrows Dene Nation at about 4:15 p.m. CST.
Montgrand was last seen on Sunday, when she and two other male teenagers traveled to a heavily-forested area two hours north of Turnor Lake. RCMP said at some point she became separated from the other two and she was not with them when they returned.
Birch Narrows Dene Nation Chief Johnathon Sylvester said Montgrand wasn't reported missing until Monday afternoon, about 36 hours after she was last seen. But tonight she's reunited with the brother and sister. Sylvester added she's recovering in a room at the Birch Narrows health centre surrounded by friends and neighbours.
"The whole community is out here," Sylvester said. "The feeling is overwhelming, excited. It's what we hoped would come true, a miracle."
When Sylvester first heard the news about Montgrand he jumped onto his ATV and drove to out to the area where she was last seen and searched all night until 10 a.m. the next morning.
He added people drove in from as far as La Loche and Buffalo Narrows, Sask., to help with the search effort.
Ken Roth is with the La Loche fire department, he said he brought along a team of Dene trackers to try and find Montgrand. On Tuesday they searched the area for nine hours.
Sylvester couldn't comment on Montgrand's condition or pinpoint exactly who found her and when, but he's thankful she was found Montgrand safe before it was too late.
"I think she's a strong girl who had the willpower to survive and never gave up," he said. "It's like a miracle it's very exciting and very good news."
Birch Narrows Dene Nation is about 590 kilometres north of Saskatoon.