Around 7:00 pm on Saturday evening Claresholm RCMP received a report from an outdoorsman that he and his 11 year old son were riding an ATV and had encountered an elderly man deep in the wilderness of the Porcupine Hills west of Claresholm. While trying to find higher ground to get a cell phone signal so he could call 911, the 40 year old man from Calgary, lost contact with the senior who had appeared to be confused and disoriented.

Claresholm RCMP, Fort Macleod RCMP and multiple other agencies, Alberta Health Services, Fish and Wildlife, and RCMP Police Dog Services from Lethbridge responded to the area. During the response, investigation revealed that the elderly man was an 83 year old from Crowsnest Pass reported missing only minutes prior.

At 9:20 Saturday night using All Terrain Vehicles, Willow Creek Emergency Services, assisted by the original caller located the missing man and transported him out of the rural area to a waiting ambulance. The man was assessed, released, and transported back to his family.

Further investigation revealed that the missing man had been wandering the wilderness for an estimated 8 hours after he became disoriented and his vehicle becoming stuck somewhere in the area. The vehicle has not been located. RCMP say that the Calgary man who called emergency services and his 11 year old son undoubtedly saved the missing man’s life.