'Horrible day': As search continues for girl missing in creek near Mitchell

Perth County OPP continued to search for a missing 10-year-old girl on Monday who is believed to have fallen through ice on Sunday morning, east of Mitchell, Ont. 

The West Perth Fire Department said that the unidentified child was last seen on Whirl Creek at around 10:30 a.m. 

The Stratford, St. Marys, and Huron Area Search and Rescue Swift Water Rescue teams sent boats and ATV's to assist the OPP in the search on Sunday and into Monday. The search will continue today.

The OPP have sent a helicopter, drones, and a canine unit to the scene, along with an underwater search and rescue team.

Police are asking the public to avoid the area, describing the conditions near the creek as "treacherous". Rain and warm weather have swollen creeks into deep, fast-flowing rivers carrying large ice chunks. 

They say that while a number of residents have offered to help search for the child, the area of the river is not safe, and could hinder the rescue efforts. 

"We understand that this is a difficult time for the community and everyone wants to do as much as they can to help and assist with the search, but the conditions are too treacherous," said OPP Const. Jill Johnson. "We need people to stay away from the area and let the rescue personnel do their work." 

Police and firefighters were stationed at every bridge that crosses the creek where it flows from east to west through Mitchell and where it connects with the Thames River.

James Marshall of the West Perth Fire Department said crews are searching the river banks. 

He said it's not easy work for firefighters who know the long odds of surviving a fall into such fast-moving, frigid waters. 

"This whole day is a horrible day and yesterday was a horrible day as well," said Marshall. "It isn't easy."

Unable to help with the search, people in Mitchell —  a town of about 5,000 — brought food and takeout coffee to the firefighters as they stood watch on the bridges. 

Steve Baez owns a farm close to Mitchell. He only has to look over his flooded fields to know that conditions are perilous anywhere near the water at this time of year. 

"With that rain yesterday and the meltwater, it's just crested right to the banks, so it's dangerous," he said. "I just feel for the family."