Environment

B.C. toddler unharmed after floating 12 kms downstream

by Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke | July 14, 2009 at 04:13 am

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A three year old boy survived a dangerous and life threatening ordeal. He floated his battery powered toy car 12 km down a river before being rescued.

Camping with his parents in Peace Island Park in Taylor, British Columbia, Demetrius Jones, age 3, disappeared from his parents campsite.

The boy disappeared around 7:30 am Sunday. He was not wearing a life jacket. He was found two hours later by Don Loewen after the RCMP launched a full scale search.

The boy who was hanging on to his battery powered toy car was unharmed.

A B.C. toddler survived a harrowing ride after he drove his toy truck into a river and was carried 12 kilometres downstream before rescuers caught up with him.

Three-year-old Demetrius Jones disappeared on the weekend from his parents' campsite at the Peace Island Park in Taylor, B.C. near Fort St. John.

The boy, who was not wearing a lifejacket, disappeared Sunday morning at about 7:30 a.m. PT, and was found far downstream more than two hours later after campers and RCMP launched a full-scale search for the boy,

He was eventually spotted by Don Loewen.

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Babel-Fish

at 06:10 on July 14th, 2009

Luck to be alive and his parents must of been worried out of their minds, seems they where not careful enough but many a parent has been over trusting, but kids that young should be watched and care for all the time.

However forgetting the blame thing lets hope that the kid gets more attention in future by his parents and at a guess they are much wiser and learned a great lesson.

On the fun side wouldn't it be strange if this lad becomes a sea adventurer when he becomes an adult as the story seems to relate he was not scared and even enjoyed the adventure. Perhaps one day he will achieve something that never been done and drive a electric amphibious car completely around the globe. He now holds a record of a kid young as three driving a electric car down stream for 12 Kilometers. The little guy is already a record holder think of the achievements this lad can do when he gets older, lol

I say this as I remember buying lego bricks for one of my sons when he was just as young and now he is a well known artist in the world of art that specializes in building large robots out of building bricks. lol

I wish the little lad well and now hope his parents don't let him out of their sight.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 06:18 on July 14th, 2009

The RCMP is still investigating the due care and custody portion of this case. In any case it all turned out well.

Luciano Galasso

at 06:47 on July 14th, 2009

This child is definitely lucky to be alive. I'm sure the parents are responsible but I just wonder why you would bring your 3 year old's battery powered car on a camping trip. That is just asking for trouble

-- Luciano Galasso

Babel-Fish

at 06:52 on July 14th, 2009

Possibly the kid screamed his head off and they had to take the car with them? who knows

Amy Judd

at 11:58 on July 14th, 2009

This is an amazing story - I'm so glad he was unharmed!

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 12:53 on July 14th, 2009

Thanks Amy and raygippee for your comments.

Anonymously Given (not verified)

at 14:25 on July 14th, 2009

Ah, the fond memories ...

On a very exciting vacation trip one year, I remember when my father packaged me up tightly in a life jacket and dropped me off of a bridge.

He drove down-stream and picked me up after only a few miles, but I became an avid swimmer and a lifelong lover of water-related things because of it.

Of course, I was a few years older than this tike ...