Dramatic video captured the heartwarming moment a mother reunited with her 6-year-old daughter, who was miraculously unharmed after spending three days alone in the wilderness of British Columbia.
Little Oaklynn Schweder wandered off from her family home near Burns Lake last Thursday and was subjected to the elements until Sunday when authorities were finally able to locate the lost girl, according to Storyful.
Oaklynn – who is non-verbal, according to her parents – was found at the bottom of a drainage gully, cold and wet with nothing on her feet but a pair of socks following what local police called the region’s most expansive search and rescue mission on record, according to CBC.
Video shows Oaklynn’s mother Gail Skin, 29, following her daughter’s high-pitched yelps into the forest and then heroically emerging holding her crying daughter.
Police and volunteers say they had already checked the area – about 15 miles away from Burns Lake – to no avail.
They decided on a whim to check again and were rewarded for their diligence.
Authorities say this was likely due to the young girl moving around in the forest while she was lost.
“We’re in awe, and we’re so amazed and shocked, like just so many emotions that so many people came together and wanted our baby home just as much as we did,” Skin told CBC of the massive volunteer force.
She added, “Because a lot of them are parents, grandparents, and aunts and uncles that just love babies. Their intentions were good and pure. They weren’t stopping until they brought our [child] home.”
More than 600 volunteers from the Canadian province joined in on the search.
Authorities also made use of helicopters and drones, according to the report.
Oaklynn was given first aid when she was found, though authorities say outside of being cold, hungry, and thirsty, the strong young girl was physically unharmed.
“I just couldn’t contain myself ‘cause I was just so so happy to have her back in my arms,” Skin told CBC.
The family said they will take precautions to ensure that little Oaklynn won’t wander off again.
