AfterTheClip

search-and-rescue · Sauble Beach, Ontario, Canada

The OPP helicopter thermal-imaging rescue of a missing boy in Sauble Beach was later used to pitch night-patrol tech

What happened?

Outcome verified

The missing six-year-old boy was found safe within hours of his disappearance and returned to his family without injury. Years later, the thermal footage of his rescue was used by police officials to demonstrate the value of helicopter night-patrol technology.

6 sourcesBy AfterTheClip Desk · Last checked Jul 30, 2026

By AfterTheClip Research

Sources: CTV News; 105-1 The River

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Timeline

  1. A six-year-old boy with special needs is reported missing by his mother in Sauble Beach, Ontario.

  2. An OPP helicopter crew uses thermal imaging to locate the boy safe in the woods shortly after midnight.

  3. OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique shares the thermal imaging and audio footage of the rescue on Twitter.

  4. The rescue footage is shared on Reddit, where it is widely discussed by users.

  5. OPP Chief Superintendent Dana Earley plays the rescue footage to demonstrate helicopter night-work capabilities to the Niagara Police Services Board.

What people are asking

Did they find the missing 6-year-old boy in Sauble Beach?

Yes, the six-year-old boy was found safe shortly after midnight on September 23, 2020, after a nearly six-hour search in a wooded area near his home.

Who was involved in the Sauble Beach helicopter rescue?

The rescue was a coordinated effort by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Aviation unit, the OPP Emergency Response Team, the OPP Canine Unit, the South Bruce Peninsula Fire Department, and the Saugeen First Nation Fire Department.

How was the thermal rescue footage used years later?

In October 2025, OPP Chief Superintendent Dana Earley presented the thermal rescue footage to the Niagara Police Services Board to demonstrate the night-work capabilities of OPP helicopters during an announcement of expanded night operations.

Receipts

How we researched this & corrections

This incident was verified using local news reports from Ontario, official statements from the Ontario Provincial Police, and public records from the Niagara Police Services Board.

Spot something wrong? Corrections: corrections@aftertheclip.com.

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