Search called off for missing Rosthern senior: RCMP

By Nigel Maxwell, paNOW

After nearly five days of searching, and with no fresh clues to draw on, RCMP and local search and rescue teams in the Rosthern area have made no further plans this week to look for Victor Falk.

Search and rescue teams from the Warman, Saskatoon, Prince Albert and Rosthern areas spent the weekend looking for the 77-year-old. Louis Perrin, team leader with the Twin Rivers Rescue Team, said it’s very frustrating to have nothing at this stage.

“We’ve been told that normally this kind of situation is resolved within 1,500 metres of their home, and we’ve definitely searched that, we’ve blanketed everything in that zone and nothing has turned up,” he said.

The search teams, which have included riders on horseback and the use drones, have focused their search thus far in the Rosthern and Waldheim areas and Perrin said they’ve been looking down roads, inside abandoned buildings, and sloughs. In addition to the search teams, upwards of 50 volunteers helped out over the weekend.

“It’s puzzling. It’s very frustrating and I feel for the family,” he said.

Police said Falk has medical issues and can become confused. He is otherwise said to be in good overall physical health. Although the search teams have temporarily called off their search, Perrin said they are not completely giving up.

“If there’s a tip brought in or something we can go and search a specific area, we definitely will put out the call and go back at it again,” Perrin said.

RCMP continue to encourage people who live in the Rosthern and Waldheim areas to check abandoned buildings or vehicles on their properties.