A missing hiker was found safe in the Simcoe County Forest in Bradford West Gwillimbury after South Simcoe used a location-sharing app to pinpoint where the person was.
Police say they received a report of a missing hiker around 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, after the person became separated from a hiking companion and lost their way just as it got dark.
Cold and damp conditions added to the urgency of the search.
TEAMWORK, TECHNOLOGY & A SAFE RETURN! SSP 911 Communicators, patrol officers & K9 worked together to locate a missing hiker 1.5 km into a forest on Oct. 14. Using what3words & phone SOS technology, officers brought the hiker to safety. Full details here: https://t.co/YkvvQAO85P https://t.co/krx1aLCuoE
— South Simcoe Police (@SouthSimcoePS) October 16, 2026
Police say 911 communicators contacted the hiker by cellphone and walked them through downloading and using the what3words app, along with the phone’s SOS feature, to help determine their location.
Officers and the K9 Unit then coordinated their search with dispatchers, eventually finding the hiker about 1.5 kilometres into the forest, near 12th Line and Sideroad 5.
The hiker was unharmed and brought to safety.
The free what3words app divides the world into three-metre squares, assigning each a unique combination of three words to help identify a precise location.
Police recommend downloading the app before heading out on trails or into areas where street addresses may not be available.
"The free app divides the world into 3-metre squares, assigning each one a unique combination of three words. These three words can help emergency responders pinpoint your location, particularly in forests, on trails and in other areas where street addresses are not available," police stated on social media.
