Prince Albert man down under, turns up safe after week long silence

“He just couldn’t believe I had been gone for so long,” Keddy said. “He figured I had to be missing.”

On the eighth day, not knowing the entire continent was out looking for him, Keddy pulled into a small mining town to check out a pub and get his camera gear charged.

“When I pulled into town, everyone was looking at me and I thought this is weird if I’m getting this much attention. They were like ‘we’re calling you the ghost like everyone is looking for you,'” he said.

Keddy, who moved to Australia roughly a year-and-a-half ago to escape the Canadian winters, explained the big difference between Australia and Saskatchewan is when you get away from a major centre, you really get away as there is no signal, no power, and the roads are not maintained. For an adventurer however like Keddy, having no phone was not a concern.

“You are more attached to the moment when you have no distractions,” he explained.

Keddy, an avid filmmaker in his own right, plans to document his entire trip across Australia. (Submitted photo/ Layton Keddy)

After learning of his missing status, Keddy said his immediate first thought turned to his family and friends back in Prince Albert, and specifically his mother.

“I phoned her right away to make sure she wasn’t freaking out and of course she was crying on the phone and she’s like Layton your friend got me so worried,” he said.

Keddy’s trip was immediately brought to a halt as police had a ton of paperwork for him to fill out and of course, the Australian media had a few questions too which Keddy didn’t mind as it has helped him increase his social media following.

After being encouraged to change his route to one that was more search-friendly, Keddy then continued on his way but was still subjected to a number of wellness checks by police. Imagine Keddy’s surprise however when one of the officers offered him shelter in her guest house.

“She’s like ‘my husband is from Carrot River,'” he said, adding Leading Senior Constable Diane Bloom also has family in the Shellbrook area, and the family are also avid bike tour guides, who have been helping him plan his route.

Despite the brief hiccup, Keddy has now moved on to a new state and still plans to complete his journey across the continent within a year.

Mom’s reaction

Betty Keddy knows full well her son’s aspirations for adventure, having seen him tour Southern Saskatchewan as well as more exotic locations in Indonesia, and South America. But despite her confidence in her son’s abilities, she admitted to paNOW her heart skipped a beat when she was initially told he was missing.

“My stomach turned and this is late at night on a Sunday and I thought okay I’m gonna wake up in the morning and figure out what I’ve gotta do,” she said.

Const. Diane Bloom is treating Keddy like family, which is very re-assuring for his mom back in Prince Albert. (Submitted photo/ Layton Keddy)

Betty admitted she did not tell any other family members at first until she knew for sure what was happening. Less than 12 hours later, she received the phone call from her son.

“It was terrific and I wanted to slap him all at the same time,” she said.

Moving forward, Betty said she has made her son promise her to let someone know where he is going, and to have some sort of check in time frame.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

by Nigel Maxwell

Prince Albert man down under, turns up safe after week long silence

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