On Sunday 15 October 2023, Torjus Seland (7) was reported missing after he went missing during a hunt with his family in Lindesnes municipality in Agder. An extensive search operation was launched, and it is this operation that the Central Rescue Service (HRS) has now evaluated. Torjus Seland (7) was found dead approximately two days after he disappeared on a trip with his family in Lindesnes. Photo: Privat This afternoon they presented the findings during a press conference at the police station in Kristiansand. – In our review, we have not identified anything concrete that was decisive for the outcome of the search. This was a complex search operation with a large scope and resource allocation, which dragged on for a long time, says department director Kjetil Lussand from the Southern Norway Central Rescue Center and adds: − Our main impression is that everyone stuck to it and did their utmost there and then to find Torjus . Deputy police chief Morten Sjustøl in the Agder police district (from left), police chief Kjerstin Askholt, head of department Kjetil Lussand from the Norwegian Central Rescue Service and chief of staff Vidar Arnesen took part in the press conference. Photo: Kristin Olsen / news Should have been notified earlier It took one hour and 22 minutes before the main rescue center was notified by the police in Agder. In the 56-page long report, it appears that this took too long. – In this case and with the facts in hand, we believe that we should have been notified earlier, says Kjetil Lussand from the Main Rescue Centre. In the report that was published this afternoon, it also states that the log keeping should have been better and that better work should have been done on resting and replacing the search crews. The police chief: – Will practice more Police chief Kjerstin Askholt in the Agder police district says they are taking to heart what HRS says about notification. – We should have contacted HRS in parallel with the other measures we implemented, says Askholt. She points out that they have now appointed dedicated people who will review rules and routines and interaction with HRS. – We will also look at competence-enhancing measures and whether we can practice more. Both alone, but also with cooperative actors. – We also want to play a role nationally if you can perhaps get even better at including it as a subject in both basic education and further education. And use our experience for this. Police chief in Agder police district Kjerstin Askholt thinks the report is both good and thorough. – It gives us the opportunity to learn from the incident, she says. Photo: John-André Samuelsen / news Mayor: – Reawakens the emotions Mayor Alf Erik Andersen in Lindesnes tells news that the press conference reawakened the emotions from the search operation. – Because this was a very tough case with a very tragic outcome. The report describes a large influx of resources, both from organized volunteers, the main rescue service, but also from unorganized residents. – It shows that there is a great commitment to society. And that we must take care of that in a good way into the future. Andersen says that the municipal management has investigated how the municipality itself handled the situation and what lessons they will take with them after the search operation. – We will discuss that when we have a police council as well, because we want to assist as best we can in this type of action. Photo: Heidi Ditlefsen / news The mayor believes the report summarizes the learning points in a good way. He is also left after the press conference with the impression that there is a great will to learn from the report. – And then there is an acknowledgment that there is something they can work on. It depends on both competence and interaction. Found after two days On Tuesday 17 October, two days after Torjus Seland disappeared, he was found. A dog patrol from the police found him around three kilometers from where he was last seen on the Sunday he disappeared. In 2023, the main rescue center was involved in 1,441 incidents involving searches for missing persons. It is not usual to evaluate every single rescue operation where someone dies. Lussand says that large search and rescue operations like this one after Torjus are so rare that personnel in the rescue service can go through an entire career without being part of such an operation. – That is why it is particularly important to learn from such incidents, he believes. Was not caught by a heat-seeking camera The police have previously said that the boy was found under a large stone slab. They have also said that this could be a reason why he was not caught by heat-seeking cameras earlier. The day before he was found, people and a helicopter searched the area where he was found, the police have previously stated. According to the police, Torjus Seland died of hypothermia. Major search operation Per Kristian Askeland from the Voluntary Organisations’ Redningsfaglige Forum (FORF) was present at the press conference as a representative of the voluntary rescue organisations. He himself participated in the search operation for Torjus Seland in October 2023 and believes that many people recognize the challenges the report addresses. It gives a good indication of things we can work on in the future. Is collaboration a key word? – That’s it. It is challenging for volunteers to find the meeting point together with professionals, and it is a matter of finances and time use. We are happy about the police’s initiative to put extra resources into this going forward. There were many volunteers who wanted to help look for Torjus Seland. Photo: Lars Eie / news Police Chief Kjerstin Askholt emphasized that she is completely confident that everyone involved did their absolute utmost to save Torjus. The report has also not identified anything concrete that was decisive for the outcome of the search. – We are very happy about that. Of course, we are also concerned with what learning points we can do as a system. We always want to get better, says Askeland. – And then together we have to see if we can make changes in the way we work and collaborate, so that we do a better job next time. But we are also of the opinion that everyone has done their very best. A total of 1,500 crews participated in the search for Torjus. Dogs, helicopters and heat-seeking drones were also used in the search. Published 18.06.2024, at 14.53 Updated 18.06.2024, at 17.35
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Submitting a report on the search operation for Torjus Seland (7) – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
