Lost hikers guided to safety using app

Huronia West Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) located two individuals that had walked off the trail in the Springwater Provincial Park with the assistance of the “What3words” app.

On Sept. 7, just after 6:30 p.m. police were dispatched to a missing persons call. A 23-year-old from Barrie, and a 24-year-old from Innisfil, had veered of the path and found themselves lost within a wooded area of the provincial park.

Using What3words, the police were able to quickly determine the hikers’ precise location and guide them safely back to their vehicle.

The communications operator at PCC Orillia sent a link to the lost hikers for What3words.

Thanks to the app and with the assistance of the park wardens, the Huronia West OPP located the hikers in good health within 35 minutes.

What3words divides the entire world into a grid of three-by-three-metre squares and assigns each square a unique three-word address.

This means that every location on the planet has a unique identifier made up of three random words.

Rescuers urge people to use what3words, saying it is easy and straightforward, it provides first responders with an exact location without having to use GPS coordinates.

“This story is a powerful reminder of how What3words app can be a valuable tool in an emergency situation,” said police.