Title: RCMP to Provide Update on Search for Missing Boy

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) will hold a media briefing on Wednesday regarding the ongoing search for a six-year-old boy missing in southern Alberta for over a week. Darius Macdougall was reported missing on September 21 after he did not return from a walk with six young relatives in the Crowsnest Pass area, where the family from Lethbridge had been camping.

Initially, the RCMP expressed optimism about finding Darius alive. However, they reported last weekend that his chances of survival have now dropped to less than five percent. The update is scheduled for noon on Wednesday.

Darius is autistic and, although he is verbal, police have indicated that he may not respond to his name. Search teams have employed special tactics, such as playing the boy's favorite song and minimizing loud noises to avoid startling him.

RCMP Cpl. Gina Slaney stated that crews are revisiting areas with a higher probability of locating Darius and are following up on leads provided by the public. The search area is described as mountainous, featuring significant elevation changes, streams, and deadfall. Recent overnight temperatures in the region have fallen to low single digits, adding urgency to the search efforts.

As the search continues, authorities remain focused on finding Darius and are appealing to the community for any information that may assist in locating him.