Campbell River Search and Rescue (CRSAR) and the Cormorant helicopter from 442 Squadron combined to air lift an injured hiker off the Elk River Trail at Landside Lake recently.
It is not very often that SAR teams rely on the 442 technicians to assist with operations, but on Sunday, Aug. 20, with daylight being ‘burnt’ and the Campbell River SAR hoist team helicopter provider not being available, the call for the military to provide assistance was made, Daryl Beck, CRSAR search manager, said. Three CRSAR members had been flown to a location nearby and after locating and assessing the young man it was determined the terrain was too difficult to extract him using a local helicopter before nightfall.
Time became a factor in this operation as the 49North Helicopters pilot had a limited window to return to the hangar – or everyone would be spending the night on the mountain. Even with the 442 helicopter arriving, the extraction still took some time as the technicians deployed themselves and their gear.
As a point of information, the downwash from a Cormorant helicopter can be overwhelming and the subject and CRSAR members were forced to endure this as the hand-off took place. A second support team had been shuttled into the scene in case they were needed. Fortunately, with only minutes to spare after scurrying down the trail, the five CRSAR members quickly loaded into the 49 North helicopter and with a sigh of relief, waved goodbye to the young man’s friends remaining at Landslide Lake overnight.
“Once again this was an example of the resources available to rescue people from the backcountry in British Columbia being ‘priceless,’” Beck said.
Hikers using “The Ten Essentials” plan can be one way to help Search and Rescue groups respond to situations.
@AlstrT | editor@campbellrivermirror.com
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