Clare Tattersall is glad she decided to walk across The University of Western Ontario grounds on April 30 with her husband, two kids and family dogs.
Tattersall, Coordinator, Graduate Student Recruitment and Retention at Western, is on maternity leave and learned of the extensive search effort launched to find a missing Western student. Her husband, a London police officer, was off-duty and decided to join his wife in the search.
“Just in my heart, I had this feeling like maybe she is somewhere and just needs to be found,” says Tattersall.
After walking for about a half hour in the wooded area behind the Support Services Building, the family made a welcomed discovery.
“It was a stroke of luck that we found her,” she says.
Tattersall’s husband took care of the student and called for assistance.
Numerous police officers, including London Police Service and auxiliary members, Western Campus Community Police Service (CCPS), and London Fire Services participated in the search. A notice of the missing person was also sent out to local media.
The student, missing for 20 hours, was taken to a hospital to be examined, but appeared to be without injuries.
CCPS director Elgin Austen says the collaborative efforts taken by local and campus police and fire officials, as well as community members, to locate the missing student was “phenomenal.”
The student was reported missing by her parents on April 29 after they arrived at her residence to move her out and noticed her disappearance.
Susan Grindrod, Associate Vice-President, Housing & Ancillary Services, thanked those involved for their quick response to the situation and offering support to the student and her family.