Search crews in Nova Scotia woods find missing preschooler

SOUTH RAWDON, N.S. – A two-year-old boy reported missing Tuesday in the snow-covered woods of central Nova Scotia was found alive and well by search crews as night fell, five hours after he disappeared.

RCMP spokeswoman Sgt. Brigdit Leger said Brendan Michael Wood was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure just after 6 p.m. local time.

“At the time he was found, he was lying down,” Leger said in an interview. “He did have one boot off, but it was just beside him … He was crying that he wanted to see his mommy.”

The toddler was found by a neighbour searching the woods with an all-terrain vehicle, about a kilometre from where the boy was last seen.

Leger said there was no word on the boy’s condition, other than he was cold and wet.

“He’s fine,” she added.

Police had earlier confirmed the boy was dressed for winter weather, wearing snow pants, a hooded coat, a tuque and pink mittens.

Brendan was reported missing at 1:25 p.m. AST outside a family home on Ashdale Road in the South Rawdon area, about 60 kilometres northwest of Halifax.

The boy is from Kentville, N.S., which is about 60 kilometres east of South Rawdon.

As darkness fell, searchers could be heard shouting the boy’s name in the bush near the rural community.

The searchers were particularly concerned about the boy’s safety because he has an undiagnosed hearing and speech impairment, police said.

By 4 p.m. local time, the wind was gusting at 50 kilometres per hour, whipping up a light snowfall and making the temperature feel like it was -13 C.

Leger said the boy was playing with two other young boys when he wandered away from the home he was visiting.

RCMP searchers were joined by firefighters from Brooklyn, N.S., and search crews from Halifax, Colchester, East Hants and West Hants.

As well, a provincial Natural Resources Department helicopter was called to the scene, butwas kept on the ground because of low cloud cover.

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