The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) continues its search for the four-year-old child who was swept away by the Mistassibi River a few days before Christmas. Dozens of police officers continue to comb the area, so far without success.
• Also read: Major operation to search for a 4-year-old girl who fell into a river in Dolbeau-Mistassini
The community of Dolbeau-Mistassini has been breathless since December 22, after a little girl slipped and fell into the turbulent stream that flows below the Chute des Pères Motel along Route 169.
It has now been four days since the SQ searched for the little girl who was swallowed by the water under her mother's helpless gaze. As on Monday, around twenty police officers searched the river bank during the day on Tuesday.
Screenshots TVA Nouvelles.
“We continue to search in the same area. We have patrol officers and a drone that supports us, explains police spokesman Hugues Beaulieu. The command post also stays at the motel and we continue our work.
The Sûreté du Québec also shared the photo of the snowsuit that the little girl was wearing at the time of the tragic accident. She wore a multi-colored coat with horizontal stripes and royal blue snow pants.
At the time of the tragedy, the child carried away by the Mistassibi was wearing a multi-colored coat with horizontal stripes and royal blue snow pants. Photo provided by the Sûreté du Québec
Strong current
Sergeant Beaulieu admits that although the search area is quite small, it is not “easy to patrol”, particularly due to the significant amounts of rain that fell in Lac-Saint-Jean in the week before the tragedy.
“The river is very high and choppy for the time of year and the current is making it difficult for us. The mild weather also means that only a thin layer of ice remains in places, meaning divers cannot access all areas for safety reasons,” he continues.
ROGER GAGNON / QMI AGENCY
At the moment, the provincial police are not considering moving the search area further south, towards the foothills of the Chute des Pères or even towards the intersection between Mistassini and Mistassibi.
“We are waiting for the ice to freeze enough for divers to explore all possible areas before moving if necessary. It’s not the first time someone has fallen into the river at this location, it’s a river we know.”
As for the possibility that the child might have survived, the spokesman is under no illusions: the staff is on a “mission to locate and recover the body” and not on a rescue.
Wave of solidarity
On social media, several residents of Dolbeau-Mistassini and surrounding areas volunteered to help the missing girl's family and the police in their search efforts.
Screenshots TVA Nouvelles.
Some of them even offered to walk along the Mistassibi with their dog to assist the police thanks to their canine companions' sense of smell.
The city of Dolbeau-Mistassini also responded, claiming it was “totally” with the victim’s family. The child, who was carried away, slipped under the safety railing installed by the municipality on a sidewalk.
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