Missing mother and son found safe after rafting trip on southern Alberta river

Police say a woman and her three-year-old son have been found safe after disappearing while rafting in southern Alberta on the weekend.

Lethbridge police say Sheena Empringham, who is 38, and her son Atreyu were reported missing by a family member on Monday who had been communicating with her by text but had lost contact.

Empringham sent a text indicating she and her son had gone floating down the Old Man River with her boyfriend searching for ammolite and were running out of food and water.

She asked the family member to pick them up south of Lethbridge, Alta., but wasn’t sure what river they had been on or where exactly they were.

The family member said Empringham sent a text saying her phone was about to die.

Later Tuesday afternoon, Lethbridge police reported that the woman and her son had been located and are safe. The woman’s boyfriend was also safely located.

“The mother and son were found south of Lethbridge by HALO Air Ambulance who volunteered their services to help aid in the search coordinated by RCMP,” police said in a statement.

“Police thank everyone who has been involved in this collaborative investigation for their assistance.”