Snowmobile rescue tale takes twist, as police find stolen machine
The drama may not be over for the young man rescued on Friday, Jan. 13, following a chilly night in the wilderness near Whitbourne.
The RCMP confirmed Monday that an abandoned snowmobile discovered near Ocean Pond shortly after the rescue was stolen from a shed in Deep Bight, near Clarenville.
The Polaris Switchback Adventure 600 was spotted in Clam River, not long after Tyler Saunders, 24, was found, 100 kilometres from Deep Bight.
A police spokesperson said the matter is still being investigated, and no charges have been laid.
Sources say investigators are examining the machine, looking for evidence.
'I can't say too much ...'
The owner of the snowmobile, meanwhile, confirmed for CBC News that his sled was stolen sometime during the early hours of Thursday, Jan. 12.
Shawn Walters also confirmed that it was his Switchback found in the river the following day.
"I can't say too much because it's still under investigation," Walters said.
Saunders was discovered by members of the Avalon North search and rescue team on Friday morning in an abandoned travel trailer near Fox Marsh Road, an area east of Whitbourne.
He had been able to make several calls for help on his cellphone Thursday night before it stopped working.
Saunders was lightly dressed in running shoes and jeans, and could barely talk when searchers found him.
He was brought to safety in an enclosed side-by-side vehicle at mid-morning on Friday, and appeared in good health as he walked unaccompanied into an awaiting ambulance.
Saved by warmer temperatures
One of the searchers said Saunders was unfamiliar with the area around Ocean Pond, and managed to jump to safety as the snowmobile began breaking through the ice.
Temperatures were above the freezing mark. Otherwise, searchers say, he may have frozen to death.
Saunders, who lives in Glovertown with his mother, could not be reached Monday.
As for Shawn Walters, he just wants his snowmobile back.
