News release

Missing 66-year-old man located by RCMP Remotely Piloted Aircraft System

May 6, 2025 - Sainte-Anne-De-Kent, New Brunswick
From: New Brunswick RCMP

Content

A missing 66-year-old man has been located safely by an RCMP Remotely Piloted Aircraft System and operator after becoming lost in the woods in Sainte-Anne-De-Kent, N.B.

In the evening of April 29, 2025, members of the Richibucto RCMP detachment received a report of a missing 66-year-old man who had gone for a walk and not returned in Sainte-Anne-De-Kent. It was believed that the man may have gotten lost in the woods.

The RCMP quickly deployed their Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) and an operator to assist in locating the missing man. Within minutes, the infrared camera on the RPAS detected a heat signature in the woods that appeared to be struggling. Once the RPAS operator confirmed that the heat signature was that of a human, officers quickly entered the woods, located the missing man, and escorted him back to safety. The man was then transported to hospital as a precautionary measure due to having spent more than 24 hours in the woods.

“Thanks to the exceptional work from our RPAS operator and all responding members, we were able to bring this man home,” says Cpl Stephane Lemire of the Richibucto RCMP. “Technology is constantly evolving and we are fortunate to be able to utilize things like the RPAS to not only locate missing people, but to solve crime and keep the public safe.”

Specialized Policing Services like the RPAS program strengthen the RCMP's ability to achieve its mandate of preventing and investigating crime, maintaining peace and order, enforcing laws, and providing vital operational support services to other police and law enforcement agencies. For more information about our specialized policing services, please visit https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/nb/quick-facts-the-rcmp-nb#s5.

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