Now that everyone is home safe, the family of a Cowichan teen shared a breakdown of what went wrong and, finally, what went right after surviving in the woods for days.
In what was supposed to be a routine drive, 19-year-old Owen Weld found himself battling for survival in the wilderness after crashing his car along a remote logging road near Caycuse.
Weld went missing on Valentine’s Day, Wednesday February 14th, sparking a large search on Friday and into the weekend.
On Saturday, Cowichan Search and Rescue (SAR) reported that two aircraft and road teams “covered a vast expanse of gravel on the logging roads in Lake Cowichan and beyond,” in a Facebook post.
On Sunday, afternoon, family members confirmed Owen had been located alive. At the time, a family member told Victoria Buzz that he was found by campers at a washout.
Here’s a detailed timeline of the events leading up to his miraculous rescue:
Wednesday, February 14th:
At around 4 p.m., Owen sets off for a drive after his first day at his new job, failing to inform anyone of his whereabouts.
Records show he attempted to call 911 and his parents around 6:40 p.m. that day after crashing his car along a remote logging road near Caycuse.
The impact of the crash triggered the airbags in his Toyota Rav4, leaving Owen stranded with no means of communication.
It is believed Owen was drifting in and out of consciousness, trapped in his vehicle with no access to food, water, or cell service.
Despite initial reluctance, Owen resorts to drinking creek water and gathers rainwater to sustain himself over the next several days.
Moments of disorientation and missing time intervals hint at the severity of Owen’s condition, as he struggles to stay conscious amid the circumstances.
Fast forward to Sunday, February 18th
Determined to seek help, on Sunday February 18th, Owen embarks on a grueling journey back along the route he came, covering approximately 15 kilometers on foot.
A chance encounter with a group of campers offers a glimmer of hope as they provide assistance and charge Owen’s phone, enabling him to reach out to his family.
“After nightfall, a car load of campers pulled over and offered him a ride. Owen said the car seemed too full and he could wait for the next ride,” read a post on Facebook.
Fortunately, the campers traveling on Caycuse Main near Cowichan Lake realized Owen needed help and insisted that he accept a lift.
They knew better and “loaded up the disoriented, filthy, lone youth,” a family member jokingly wrote.
Owen first called his dad who called Diana, Owen’s mom, who was on an active search with friends in Port Renfrew.
“Diana called 911 and her cousin, Christine Piers, who was with her, called communications lead to be sure everyone was notified before service was lost. They started the trip back from Port Renfrew, which seemed an eternity,” read the post.
With the aid of the campers, Owen’s family coordinated a rendezvous point at a Tim Hortons, ensuring a seamless reunion despite potential communication disruptions.
In the car, the campers fed Owen, who in his daze reported that it was the most delicious lettuce he had ever tasted.
On the drive to meet Owen, Bill called the search and rescue communications lead and exclaimed, “I heard his voice.”
While the Tim Hortons was a random meeting spot chosen by the campers—they stuck with that, to be sure that everyone found each other, even if cell reception was lost.
As the ambulance, his father, other family members, RCMP, and SAR convened at the coffee shop, Owen remained disoriented, mistakenly believing it was Thursday the 15th, three days earlier— suggesting that he may have been unconscious for a significant period.
Owen is rushed to Cowichan District Hospital, where he undergoes a series of medical evaluations and treatments, including a CT scan and replenishment of essential nutrients.
Kept overnight for observation, Owen savours his first meal in days. He was released the following day on Monday, February 19th—marking the perfect Family Day.
Meanwhile, search and rescue teams, alongside law enforcement, gear up to investigate the crash site, piecing together the events of Owen’s ordeal.
“The family and support team are deeply appreciative of all of you, Cowichan Search & Rescue, and the RCMP,” read an update after Owen was found.
