KNYSNA NEWS - On Saturday 7 January, Sarah Bower, an elderly resident of Hunter's Home, went missing during a search for her dog that had escaped their yard. 

But a massive community effort involving more than 100 residents and various safety and security entities helped ensure her safe return the following morning.

It was late afternoon on Saturday when Sarah's two dogs slipped out of the gate as her husband returned home. According to her son, Mitchell Clark, his mother went one way to find their beagle while his stepfather went in a different direction to find their boerboel. "My mom had gone down Wilson Street, towards the golf club, found their beagle and begun making her way back," he said.

Start of search
It was at that time that his stepfather found their boerboel and returned home. But, he grew worried when Sarah didn't return home too. "We think she must have become stressed when walking back because the beagle managed to get off and run again," Clark explained. "So she chased after him again." Sarah did not return home that night.

In the early hours of the evening, Clark notified the rest of their family and they began searching for Sarah. They in turn notified the neighbourhood watch groups, and word began making the rounds. Soon Allsound Security, Knysna Police, the Knysna Community Policing Forum (CPF) and the Knysna Fire & Rescue Department all responded and the search for Sarah began.

A coordinated search effort
"At first there was a vast number of cars and people driving and walking around Hunter's Home in search of my mom," Clark said. "But then Warrant Officer Cowley and Cheryl Britz called everyone to the golf club where a coordinated and organised search was set up." Cowley is the Southern Cape Police Head of Search and Rescue, and Britz is the chairperson of the Knysna CPF. Knysna Police Station Station Commander Colonel Francois de Wet was also part of the team.

Based on residents' reports of sightings, the search party was sent out to various points around Hunter's Home and even Leisure Isle. More than 100 volunteers took part in the search. "It really was incredible to see everyone help search for my mom. Mark Laminie and his crew from the fire department were amazing, they put on their 'wellies' and searched the marshes," Clark said.

The search carried on well into the evening, and according to Allsound Security managing director Declan Nurse, neighbouring volunteer groups such as the Outeniqua Farm Watch and the Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association drove through to assist with drone support. The search was called off at 01:00 on Sunday morning, to be resumed at 05:00.

Members of the public listen to Warrant Officer Francois Cowley's debrief. 

Warrant Officer Francois Cowley debriefs residents of Hunter's Home on search and rescue efforts on Saturday night. 

CCTV cameras
Allsound then scanned the CCTV camera footage of the Hunter's Home area at the approximate time of Sarah's disappearance in the hope of tracking her down. 

"The HRF Neighbourhood Watch cameras played a vital role in confirming that Mrs Bower had not left the Hunter's Home area," Nurse said. "Her route on foot through the area was tracked, culminating in the confirmation of last location seen on camera at the end of Wilson Street [near Penhill Nursery]."

This led the search and rescue teams to believe that she had walked into the bush via the cul-de-sac at the end of Wilson Street, and they focused the search efforts on this area. 

The route that Bower walked through Hunter's Home. The last CCTV footage showing her was at the end of Wilson Street, marked by the 'X' on the map.

Chris Gould of the Knysna Safety and Security Initiative got involved in the search on Sunday morning and flew his drone in the area while the rest of the search efforts continued on foot.

"I spotted someone in white along the fence line below Pezula Estate," Gould said. It was just before 07:00. He sent the images off to the search and rescue teams to confirm that it was Sarah. The search teams who were on foot then set off to locate Sarah based on Gould's findings. "They couldn't believe how far she'd actually gone. Somehow my mom had managed to walk the better part of 2km along the fence line," Clark recalls.

Sarah Bower was spotted walking along the fence line below Pezula.

Happy ending
She was located just before 08:00, roughly 15 hours after she had gone missing. "My mom was really cold, she was shivering, and she had scratches and cuts on her head, hands and back," Clark said. 

One thing that stood out to all involved though, was that her beloved beagle which she had gone off to look for, had stayed by her side throughout the entire ordeal. "He initially growled at anyone who came near my mom, he was so protective," Clark recounted.

"Cowley then went off and returned shortly with a stretcher." By this time the Western Came Metro Emergency Medical Services had responded to the scene and helped stabilise Sarah. 

"A doctor De Wet, who had been cycling and helping look for my mom, had also made his way to the scene (in his cycling gear) to help care for my mom," Clark explained.

Once Sarah had been stabilised and placed on the stretcher, the trek to get her back began. "Everyone was great. Laminie and his team were there again and along with police and Metro, they took turns to carry my mom back on the stretcher." Sarah was taken to hospital and received stitches for some of her wounds. It wasn't long until she was back home and reunited with her loved ones.

Lots of thank yous
Britz expressed her gratitude on behalf of the Knysna CPF to all involved. "The CPF would like to thank all the stakeholders of the Knysna search team and the community who sprang into action and heeded the call to assist with the search for Sarah, each one of whom played a vital role in the search to help ensure a collective successful outcome."

Clark had some thanks of his own too. "We cannot express just how grateful we are for everybody's help and efforts to track down and find my mom. So many amazing people were involved and we cannot thank you enough," he said.

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