Photo: Flickr/Bill Campbell

C-GMPN - Royal Canadian Mounted Police - Aerospatiale AS350B3

A Kelowna mother is extremely thankful to RCMP for finding her missing son.

Her seven-year-old boy was home sick from school on Monday and was playing in their backyard around 1 p.m. when he went missing.

“I was in full panic,” she said.

She immediately called her husband, raced around the complex searching for her son, called his school and contacted 911.

“It was absolutely the worst experience that any parent should not have to go through,” she said.

RCMP, including a helicopter, combed lower Glenmore within minutes of being alerted about the missing boy.

“We wanted to see all of our available units head to that area to begin the search,” said Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey.

Police scoured the home of the boy top to bottom to make sure he wasn’t hiding.

RCMP were in the process of contacting Central Okanagan Search and Rescue to assist and alert the public when they located the boy.

"An officer came over and asked if I knew the people at a certain address and they said he was there,” she said.

The mother said she hopes no other family will ever have to feel the fear she felt.

“The police went above and beyond and I can't express how thankful I am for all of them and also so very thankful for the school and neighbours that assisted in the search,” she said.

“From the bottom of my heart thank you.”