UPDATE: Missing rafters found safe

UPDATE AUG 29 4:40 P.M.

Lethbridge Police have confirmed Sheena Empringham, her son Atreyu, and her boyfriend have been found safe. According to police the pair was located by HALO air ambulance, who volunteered to help in the search. RCMP coordinated the search, and officials are thanking everyone who assisted in and worked on the investigation.

UPDATE AUG 29 11:30 A.M.

The investigation is ongoing and police say there is not evidence to suggest the three people are still in Lethbridge. Police have notified other law enforcement agencies around southern Alberta.

“Investigative efforts have included deployment of the Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services water rescue team along the Old Man River Monday evening. The boat made it as far as the St. Mary River before the water became too shallow to proceed,” reads an update from the Lethbridge Police Service. “LPS used an unmanned aerial vehicle to conduct a search south of Lethbridge and in partnership with RCMP, camping areas were checked near locations where ammolite is prevalent. In addition, the mother and son’s last known address in Stavely was also checked without success.”

Police say Sheena Empringham asked a family member to pick them up south of Lethbridge on Aug. 27 and it wasn’t clear what river they were on or where they were.

“On Aug. 28 the family member received another text message saying Sheena’s phone had died but she still needed a ride. She indicated she’d call the relative at 3 p.m. with more information and has not been heard from since,” police say.

LPs says officers do not know what day the three began their excursion, where they entered the rive or what river they were actually on. Search efforts are concentrated on the Oldman River south of Lethbridge, based on where ammolite can be found.

The friend who is believed to have dropped them off has not been identified.

BACKGROUND

Lethbridge police are searching for three people who were rafting on the Oldman River and haven’t been heard from since the morning of Aug. 28.

Sheena Empiringham, her son Atreyu and a third person were dropped off at the river by a friend to go search for ammolite, but police do not have a name or contact info for the friend. 

“If you are the friend who provided the three with a ride please call the LPS non-emergency line at 403-328-4444 and provide the location they were last observed so police have a better starting point,” reads a news release from LPS. “Family last spoke to them during the afternoon of August 27, where they stated they were running out of food and water.”

On Aug. 28, family members got a text from Sheena saying her phone was about to die and she would call them when it was charged.

“Family has not heard from them since. LPS are concerned for the safety of the three,” police say.