Recovery operation for Calgary boy, Behzad Ahmad, scaled back
Kate Adach, David Bell | CBC News | Posted: July 25, 2016 12:56 AM | Last Updated: July 25, 2016
Friend says family grateful for support shown by community
Parks Canada has scaled back the "recovery operation" to find an 11-year-old Calgary boy who was swept away in the Yoho River on Friday, while a friend says the family is grateful for the support shown.
The search began Friday evening and extended into the weekend.
"At first light on Saturday, Parks Canada continued a ground and aerial search with the support of a Parks Canada Dog handler and continued aerial searches on the Sunday morning," the agency said in a release late Sunday.
"Parks Canada will continue to regularly monitor the area in the coming weeks as water levels change with the objective of successfully locating the boy."
Friends of the family say Behzad Ahmad had been playing on the edge of the Yoho River when he slipped in.
They say relatives tried to rescue him but he was pulled away by the current.
Two boys fell into the river at about 7:40 p.m. near the Takakkaw Falls Day Use Area in Yoho National Park, said Parks Canada spokesperson Tania Peters.
One boy was quickly taken out of the river.
The area is located next to the Trans-Canada Highway, just east of Field, B.C., about 210 kilometres west of Calgary.
"The thoughts of all Parks Canada personnel are with the young man's family and friends," said Peters.
Sultan Mahmood — a close family friend — says the boy's parents are grateful so many people have tried to help.
"The response by the people, general public, people who were there, they were very supportive. The RCMP they were very supportive and then the search team they were very supportive," Mahmood said.
Earlier this month, a 21-year-old man from Calgary died while hiking in Yoho National Park.
RCMP said the man was with a group of friends in the alpine above the Little Yoho Campground when he lost his footing and fell 200 metres to his death.
And last year, 19-year-old Jeremy Prendergast from Calgary fell to his death in the 100-metre high Twin Falls, about eight-kilometres from the Takakkaw Falls parking lot.