Coquitlam Search and Rescue is praising the work of a Port Moody Police constable for helping find a 20-year-old Douglas College student with special needs who disappeared from Sasamat Lake last week.
Const. Angela Fisher worked with Joy Zhang's friend Judy, who is also special needs, to piece together information that would help locate the missing student. Judy had initially gone missing with Zhang on Thursday from White Pine beach but was found alone several hours later. Zhang was found on Sunday.
Dwight Yochim, a search manager for Coquitlam Search and Rescue, said crews had a difficult time understanding Judy but Fisher was able to work with her and build a relationship.
"Const. Fisher is an amazing investigator," he said. "She sat down with Judy every time we got out there. She walked on the trails with her. Every time she did that, a new piece of the puzzle came out."
Judy told Fisher that she and Zhang had eaten berries and watched the sunset together, information that helped rescue crews narrow the search area.
Zhang was found in good health Sunday morning, almost four days after her initial disappearance, not far from where rescue personnel discovered Judy Thursday night.
Yochim said it was likely SAR members were close to Zhang at several points during the search but given her disability, she may not have known to respond when crews called out her name.
She was found 200 m from the trail lying underneath some ferns, where Yochim believes she remained for the four days she was missing.
"We may never know what she did for those four days and three nights," he said. "I don't think that she moved from that spot."
The 80-hour search involved 20 agencies and required more than 120 volunteers to complete.
The Port Moody Police Department also thanked Twitter users who re-tweeted the information about the search for Zhang. Several visitors to the park said they were made aware of the search through social media such as Twitter.
After Zhang was found Sunday, Douglas College president Scott McAlpine posted a statement on the Douglas College website thanking the community for its help.
"The entire Douglas College community is thankful, relieved and absolutely elated to hear the news that Joy Zhang has been found," he said. "We understand that she is receiving medical care. At this point, we do not have many details on her condition, but we have heard that she's in good health and we are hopeful that she will make a full recovery."
