A non-verbal six year old who was lost in the Canadian forest for three days was reunited with her parents in a heartwarming moment caught on video.
Oaklynn Schweder, who has been described by her family as autistic and non-verbal, was located just after 6pm on Sunday in a forested area between her home in British Columbia and the Skin Tyee First Nation Band Office, Kelowna Now reports.
She was last seen outside of her home on September 19 at 6pm, sparking a massive search with drones, helicopters and police dogs, as the young girl remained on her own for three days, according to Prince George Citizen.
It is now believed that Schweder, whose family says she likes to crawl into small spaces, moved around while she was missing.
Finally on Sunday evening, video showed Schweder’s parents, Gail Skin and James Schweder, running into a forested area, and Skin scooping her young child up in her arms as she screamed and cried ‘baby girl.’
Oaklynn Schweder, who has been described by her family as autistic and nonverbal, was located just after 6pm on Sunday after going missing three days prior
Video showed Schweder’s parents, Gail Skin and James Schweder, running into a forested area, and Skin scooping her young child up in her arms
The couple later emerged from the woods and into a clearing, where volunteers wrapped Oaklynn in a blanket as they cheered and applauded the girl’s discovery and hugged her parents.
Schweder did not appear to have any visible injuries, but was taken to Burns Lake Hospital for further medical evaluation as members of the Skin Tyee Nation handed her presents and played traditional music, according to Castanet.
‘This is the outcome that we all hoped for,’ Burns Lake Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment commander Staff Sgt. Joshua Smith said.
He added that ‘everyone searching remained dedicated to bringing her home safely.
‘We are thankful for the support of all our partner agencies and volunteers that worked day and night to achieve this outcome.’
Schweder did not appear to have any visible injuries, but was taken to Burns Lake Hospital for further medical evaluation
Volunteers cheered as the young girl was led to safety on Sunday night
More than 600 volunteers joined the police, British Columbia Wildlife Service and Search and Rescue teams in the multi-day search for Oaklynn that began Friday night.
The Skin Tyee First Nation Band, of which Schweder is a member, also helped in coordinating volunteers and providing them with food and shelter, the National Post reports.
‘The community really came together, assisting with sharing information, feeding and sheltering volunteers, transportation, parking in town and [providing] a staging area,’ Burns Lake SAR said in a Facebook post.
In their own posts on social media, Schweder’s parents also expressed their gratitude to everyone who helped locate their little girl.
‘Oh my God, I can’t believe it, we have our daughter home safe and sound now, I am so happy,’ James Schweder posted on Monday.
Members of the Skin Tyee Nation handed Schweder presents and played traditional music as she was found
‘I also can’t believe how much support and love we got from their different agencies and volunteers who came out and helped us in these dark times.
‘I can’t thank everybody enough for their help and support during these last few days,’ he added.
Skin, meanwhile, shared that her daughter was sleeping peacefully.
‘I’m sitting looking at my baby girl, watching her sleep and I am just so grateful she’s here beside me,’ she wrote.
‘Thank you again to everyone who helped in any way for helping [to bring] my girl back home.’
In a separate post, she shared that, considering the ordeal she went through, Oaklynn ‘will be having the biggest birthday party.’
She turns seven on September 30.
