(Dolbeau-Mistassini) The search to find the 4-year-old girl who fell a week ago in the Mistassibi River, in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, ended Friday.
The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) announced early in the evening that it was suspending the search “in its current form”. During the day, two police officers were stationed at strategic observation points to try to locate the child.
Over the past seven days, patrol boats along the banks, divers and an aerial surveillance team using a drone or helicopter, have searched for the girl.
“Unfortunately, despite sustained efforts and in the absence of any clue to locate the little girl, we are suspending the ongoing search. Divers from the Sûreté du Québec should go to the scene when the ice cover allows,” the SQ said in a press release.
On December 22, the little girl was sliding with her mother in Dolbeau-Mistassini, when the tragedy occurred in the afternoon, near a hiking trail located near Route 169.
After slipping, the child was unable to stop her running and she crossed the fence of a guardrail installed along the bank, then found herself in the waters of the river.
PHOTO GIMMY DESBIENS, LE QUOTIDIEN ARCHIVES
The girl fell into the river after crossing the grate of a barrier placed along the river bank.
In the event of new clues to locate the little girl, the teams could once again be mobilized on the ground.
The investigation into this event continues. The family has been supported since the first day by the investigations department of the MRC Maria-Chapdelaine and this will continue, assures the SQ.
Anyone with information relating to this event can contact the Sûreté du Québec at 310-4141.