Skip to content

Missing Castlegar man located, safe and sound

Jessie Wright located in mountainous area west of Castlegar

Jessie Wright, the 19-year-old man who had been missing since Saturday, has been found near Highway 3 west of the Nancy Green Summit between Castlegar and Christina Lake.

Castlegar RCMP have reported this afternoon that

"Jessie was walking on the rail trail that runs between Castlegar and Grand Forks when he took a wrong trail and ended in the mountainous area north of Hwy 3."

Search and rescue personnel were in the midst of a search for the Castlegar resident.

A helicopter pilot had "been able to see where some foot prints left a trail and follow them to a small cabin. RCMP members were then flown to the cabin, and Jessie was located there."

Wright was reported to have been "exhausted, cold, hungry, and very stiff from walking through very deep snow for over three days, but it appears he will be fine."

Castlegar RCMP offered much credit and thanks to the Castlegar Search and Rescue.

"The way this group of volunteers comes together for such an event is inspiring," said a statement from Sergeant Laurel Mathew.

"SAR members stopped everything they were doing for the last two days, and set up at the command post and did whatever they were tasked - from answering phones and questions, reading maps, to riding  quads and sleds in rather rough terrain.    Our community is very lucky to have this group."