A 15-year-old Penticton boy with Down syndrome who went missing Saturday afternoon was spotted from an RCMP helicopter by a creek bed Sunday morning.

Police said that Evander Van De Sype was healthy and unharmed when searchers made contact with him at the Ridgedale Avenue area creek bed, at about 10:30 a.m. PT.

Penticton Search and Rescue had joined Penticton RCMP in an extensive ground search overnight Saturday.

Van De Sype had last been seen at 2:30 p.m. at his home nearby.

Van De Sype, who is deaf and mute, communicates using sign language. He also wears glasses, but was not wearing them when he went missing.

Police had asked homeowners in the area to search their residences and backyards Saturday but, when night fell, a wider search effort was launched.