Derek Neary
Northern News Services

FORT LIARD (Jul 10/98) - Theresa Diamond'C spent more than 24 hours lost in the woods near Fort Liard late last month.

When she was found, she good naturedly asked some searchers why they couldn't have met her halfway, rather than have her come all the way to the roadside where they awaited with horns and sirens blaring.

Diamond'C, 54, and a male friend had gone out to a bush camp to camp and set rabbit snares. After a couple of days, they became separated on their way back to the community. After searching for Diamond'C himself, the man walked the 24 kilometres to Fort Liard where he alerted her family to the situation.

A search party, involving the RCMP, the protection services officer, the fire chief and more than a dozen members of the community, was organized and set out at first light the next morning to find the missing woman.

Two Alberta-based companies conducting seismic oil and gas exploration in the Fort Liard area generously provided the use of two helicopters for the full day.

The strategy employed involved using a convoy of vehicles stretched along the highway with horns and sirens blaring. The noise, in conjunction with the helicopters overhead allowed Diamond'C to find her way to the road safe and sound.

According to Merle Carpenter, an RCMP constable in Fort Liard, Diamond'C is very well-liked in the community and it came as a great relief to have found her.