A three-year-old boy who wandered off, prompting a two-hour air and land search, was found locked inside a vacant condo just 75 metres away from where he went missing on Monday afternoon.
The tot became separated from the adult he was with at around 1:15 p.m. in Riverside just outside Fernie.
Fernie Search and Rescue, Fernie Fire Department and the RCMP were called in to help find the boy. Many local residents also joined the search, according to Fernie Search and Rescue team member, Scott Robinson.
“We had 14 members looking for him, and about 40 to 50 local residents also joined the search.
“We were concerned about the river being so close. A local rafting company was on the river and helped out by conducting a search right down to Morrissey.”
The RCMP brought in a helicopter to continue searching the river and area around Riverside.
After about two-and-a-half hours someone spotted the boy locked inside a condo and police were able to get inside to return him to his mother.
The boy was uninjured, and unconcerned.
“He didn’t seem bothered at all by all the fuss,” said Robinson.