The search for a missing 74-year-old woman was lost in the woods northeast of Smeaton, Sask., after a body was discovered Sunday.
Lois Chartrand’s family confirmed to CTV News that the woman’s body was found Sunday afternoon, about a kilometer from the RCMP mobile command centre.
RCMP say Chartrand was last seen around 11 a.m. on Aug. 4 when she left an ATV trail to go pick mushrooms in the woods. Chartrand and her friend had two-way radios with them, but they were lost.
The RCMP launched a search for Chartrand the day she went missing. The last two-way radio contact they had with her was around 6 a.m. on August 5.
RCMP believe she survived a night alone in the woods, but a search team was unable to locate her.
Chartrand was from White Fox. He disappeared in a heavily wooded area 32 kilometers northeast of Smeaton, near Hanson Lake Road.
Her husband Lorne Terry says Chartrand was an experienced picker and knew the area where she disappeared.
The couple received income from picking mushrooms, fiddleheads and wild berries.
The family says they are grateful to everyone who helped in the 11-day search.
Saskatchewan RCMP say multiple police K9 teams, Alberta RCMP/helicopter air support and the Saskatoon Police Service and air support assisted in the search. As well as the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, Search and Rescue Saskatchewan Association of Volunteers (SARSAV) Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA) and Heli Recon.
“We also thank the community members and Lois’ loved ones, who, despite the stressful circumstances, made sure all searchers were fed and supported,” an RCMP press release said.
Several volunteers from the nearby community helped search the forest. Local businesses and people also donated food and supplies to support the search efforts.