Missing soldier got lost after relieving himself

A soldier helping to battle wildfires in northern Saskatchewan had another battle to fight Monday after he went missing for six hours.

Nature called for the Edmonton-based soldier on Monday and that ultimately got him lost in the La Ronge area.

“A soldier goes into the woods to relieve himself, gets turned around and starts walking away. This happens,” explained Brigadier-General Wayne Eyre.

“I’m happy to report he is uninjured, except for his pride.”

The search for him started within minutes, Eyre outlined. It took six hours to find him since he was moving away from his initial location.

Eyre said the soldier was part of the regular force, describing him as relatively experienced. He was part of a platoon that was conducting general fire line tasks, which includes checking for any hotspots and helping move equipment such as hoses.

He didn’t have a radio with him at the time and when asked whether fellow soldiers were not nearby, Eyre admitted how they’ll examine that a little bit closer.

“Use of the buddy system is very important,” he said.

Approximately another 40 reservists are headed to northern Saskatchewan from Winnipeg. Eyre said that’ll make a total of 850 soldiers helping to extinguish the fires, with a total of about 600 on the front lines and roughly 250 in a supportive role.

We're told soldier that went missing in northern SK went off to relieve himself and got lost. Not injured…except for his pride army says

— Kevin Martel (@KevinMartel) July 14, 2015

Although some evacuees have returned home to a few small communities past La Ronge, there are still 10,000 people in evacuation centres, hotels and hundreds more with family and friends.

With files from News Talk Radio’s Kevin Martel.

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