SAR sees largest ever single day deployment in over 10 years during search at Sooke Potholes

Search and Rescue teams from far and wide gathered in Sooke over the weekend to try and find missing woman Melissa McDevitt.

According to the Comox Valley Search and Rescue group, Saturday saw the largest single day deployment of members in over a decade.

In total, 170 members from 17 teams came to Sooke to search for McDevitt, who is sadly still missing.

The search had been scaled back to give the volunteer members a break, followed by a push over the weekend.

McDevitt, age 38, was hiking in the Sooke Potholes area over a week ago. Her family last spoke to her on the evening of Dec. 8, 2022. Her vehicle was found in the Charters River/Hatchery parking lot on Sooke River Road on Dec. 10, 2022.

It was discovered that McDevitt was supposed to travel from Victoria to Vancouver and board a flight, but never arrived at the ferry terminal or the airport.

After her car was found, a ground search was initiated immediately, led by Juan de Fuca Search and Rescue and supplemented by the Sooke RCMP, RCMP Air Services and Police Dog Services.

McDevitt was last seen entering a trail at Sooke Potholes wearing a burgundy-coloured long sleeved top, blue pants, and carrying two hiking poles.

Police say she is known to hike near the Sooke Potholes area, as well as neighboring trails such as John Stick Peak, Malcolm, The Donald, Mike Hill, the Three Amigos, and Tony’s Triumph.