Rescues: 1)(Video)There’s an app for that. It helped South Simcoe Police locate a missing hiker; 2)Partially submerged vessel brought safely to shore on Lake Couchiching
1)(Video)There’s an app for that. It helped South Simcoe Police locate a missing hiker
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan, October 16, 2026
South Simcoe Police search the Simcoe County Forest for a missing hiker.
A missing hiker was found safe in the Simcoe County Forest in Bradford West Gwillimbury after South Simcoe used a location-sharing app to pinpoint where the person was.
Police say they received a report of a missing hiker around 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, after the person became separated from a hiking companion and lost their way just as it got dark.
Cold and damp conditions added to the urgency of the search.
Police say 911 communicators contacted the hiker by cellphone and walked them through downloading and using the what3words app, along with the phone’s SOS feature, to help determine their location.
Officers and the K9 Unit then coordinated their search with dispatchers, eventually finding the hiker about 1.5 kilometres into the forest, near 12th Line and Sideroad 5.
The hiker was unharmed and brought to safety.
The free what3words app divides the world into three-metre squares, assigning each a unique combination of three words to help identify a precise location.
Police recommend downloading the app before heading out on trails or into areas where street addresses may not be available.
“The free app divides the world into 3-metre squares, assigning each one a unique combination of three words. These three words can help emergency responders pinpoint your location, particularly in forests, on trails and in other areas where street addresses are not available,” police stated on social media.
2)Partially submerged vessel brought safely to shore on Lake Couchiching
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan, October 16, 2026
A boater is safe after their vessel became partially submerged on Lake Couchiching.
Orillia OPP responded to the distress call on Wednesday.
Police found the vessel with one person on board, who was being assisted by an individual on another boat.
Police worked with crews from the Orillia and Ramara fire departments to get the boater and vessel safely to shore.
The OPP is reminding boaters to carry all required safety equipment and know how to use them in an emergency.
Vessel safety equipment requirements can be found on the Transport Canada website: https://tc.canada.ca/