RCMP say the missing 19-year-old man who was last seen in Lake Cowichan on Valentine’s Day has been found “safe and sound,” following extensive searches by local rescue groups and volunteers.
Mounties in an update say Owen Weld “has been located and is safe and sound. The RCMP thanks the public and the media for their assistance.”
Weld was reported missing on Friday, Feb. 16, after he was last seen two days prior, on Wednesday, Feb. 14, according to Lake Cowichan RCMP in an initial release.
At the time, police said they were “very concerned” for Weld.
Search and rescue groups had also been searching for him, while administrators behind the Facebook page Find Owen Weld were sharing search updates, saying he was last spotted at the A&W in Lake Cowichan Wednesday afternoon.
Weld was driving a black Toyota Rav4, and posts on the Find Owen page noted that volunteers were combing local roads in hopes of finding him.
Cowichan Search and Rescue (SAR), in its own post, said a weekend search involved air, door-to-door and road searches, with its crew, along with mutual SAR groups, covering “an enormous amount of gravel on the logging roads…”
They were searching “Lake Cowichan and beyond.”
An update to the Find Owen page just after 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, said Weld was “Found!” alive and safe, with more details to come.
“The family and support team are deeply appreciative of all of you, Cowichan Search & Rescue, and the RCMP. They have been sending in messages that will be communicated when compiled,” reads a post on the page Sunday night.
“Tomorrow (Monday), we will share accurately and thoughtfully.”
The page also noted that “there was a car accident. He (Weld) is OK, with his parents, and receiving medical attention to be sure he is fine. Details remain unclear…Thank you all for your support.”
CHEK News later spoke with Weld’s mom after he was found.
READ MORE: ‘I’m alive, Mom, I love you’: Cowichan mom overwhelmed with joy after missing son found safe
Ethan Morneau
