Air and ground search underway for 7-year-old girl missing in Chilliwack, B.C., RCMP say
Police say young girl appeared to have followed neighbour's dogs into a wooded area
Chilliwack RCMP say they are searching for a seven-year-old girl who was reported missing on Thursday.
RCMP say Lily Coursol was last seen around 4 p.m. Thursday in the 50800 block of Winona Road after she apparently followed her neighbour's dogs into a wooded area and did not return.
Const. Bradley Holditch, Chilliwack RCMP media relations officer, said the dogs returned about five minutes later without Lily.
In a Thursday release, police described the girl as Indigenous and four feet tall, with light brown hair and brown eyes, adding she was last seen wearing pink clothing.
Police said officers and search and rescue personnel are conducting an air and ground search, and are asking the public to avoid the area of Chilliwack Lake Road to allow emergency responders and investigative teams to operate without interference.
"We're urging the public to stay away from the area to allow emergency responders to investigate, to work without interference," said Holditch.
"We can appreciate and understand the public's concern and wanting to come out and help."
He described the area as heavily wooded and with difficult terrain and limited cell service.
"We definitely don't want more people lost," he said.
Anyone with information about Lily's whereabouts is asked to contact local police.
With files from Yvette Brend and Michelle Gomez