Search and Rescue

A helicopter had to be used to airlift an injured hiker off Sugarloaf Mountain in Sooke Regional Park Tuesday evening. The man was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. (Black Press Media file photo)

Injured hiker airlifted off Sugarloaf Mountain in Sooke park

Man taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries

 

Mounties are now using What3Words digital location to help people pinpoint their whereabouts when lost or injured. The app tells you a three-word label for every 10-foot square on the planet. (What3Words)

RCMP now using app to track people lost, injured in B.C.’s backcountry

‘All they have to do is click a link and we’ll be able to pinpoint where they are,’ says RCMP

 

SAR crews worked late into the night Tuesday to rescue an injured snowboarder in North Vancouver. (Facebook/North Shore Rescue)

Our view: Regular rescues should not be required

Still far too many incidents of people putting themselves at risk

  • Feb 25, 2021

 

Police are urging skiers and snowboarders venturing into the backcountry to be prepared and equipped for avalanches, which are likely to occur. (Jen Coulter photo)

Skier killed, others injured in ‘high-risk’ avalanches this week near Whistler

Police warn of increased avalanche risk this Family Day weekend

Police are urging skiers and snowboarders venturing into the backcountry to be prepared and equipped for avalanches, which are likely to occur. (Jen Coulter photo)
Rescue crews aided a snowboarder who had ducked the ropes behind the Sky Chair at Cypress Mountain into dangerous avalanche territory on Tuesday night. (Facebook/North Shore Rescue)

Missing snowboarder rescued on Cypress Mountain as search crews warn of avalanche risk

Tuesday night’s rescue was the SAR team’s second rescue in less than two weeks in the area

Rescue crews aided a snowboarder who had ducked the ropes behind the Sky Chair at Cypress Mountain into dangerous avalanche territory on Tuesday night. (Facebook/North Shore Rescue)
Hope Search and Rescue aided in finding a skier near the Coquihalla summit on Monday night. (Contributed)

26 SAR members assist in late-night rescue of skier near Coquihalla Summit

Hope, Chilliwack and Central Fraser Valley SAR dispatched

Hope Search and Rescue aided in finding a skier near the Coquihalla summit on Monday night. (Contributed)
Kevin McNeill, Nanaimo Search and Rescue past president, left, looks over architectural drawings with Darren McKenna, site superintendent with construction contractor R.W. (Bob) Wall, for renovations to NSAR’s headquarters that got underway Tuesday, Jan. 26. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo Search and Rescue begins $2.6-million makeover at Harewood headquarters

Renovation project will increase space for vehicles and improve training and management operations

Kevin McNeill, Nanaimo Search and Rescue past president, left, looks over architectural drawings with Darren McKenna, site superintendent with construction contractor R.W. (Bob) Wall, for renovations to NSAR’s headquarters that got underway Tuesday, Jan. 26. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
SAR crews worked late into the night Tuesday to rescue an injured snowboarder in North Vancouver. (Facebook/North Shore Rescue)

Complicated, dangerous rescue saves man in avalanche near Cypress Mountain

North Shore SAR team braves considerable conditions to reach injured snowboarder

SAR crews worked late into the night Tuesday to rescue an injured snowboarder in North Vancouver. (Facebook/North Shore Rescue)
The sky above Mt. Benson in Nanaimo is illuminated by flares as search and rescuers help an injured hiker down the mountain to a waiting ambulance. (Photo courtesy Nanaimo Search and Rescue)

Search plane lights up Nanaimo’s Mt. Benson with flares during icy rope rescue

Search and rescue team gets injured hiker down the mountain to a waiting ambulance

The sky above Mt. Benson in Nanaimo is illuminated by flares as search and rescuers help an injured hiker down the mountain to a waiting ambulance. (Photo courtesy Nanaimo Search and Rescue)
The Vancouver-based SAR team successfully rescued two lost snowshoers off of the west side of Tim Jones Peak in the early morning of Monday, Jan. 19. (North Shore Rescue photo)

B.C.’s busiest SAR team raises alarm after 2021 begins with fatality, multiple rescues

‘People beyond ski resort areas of Seymour, Grouse, and Cypress go without cell reception,’ SAR warns

The Vancouver-based SAR team successfully rescued two lost snowshoers off of the west side of Tim Jones Peak in the early morning of Monday, Jan. 19. (North Shore Rescue photo)
The Rogers Creek Trail main trailhead is located on the Redford Extension in Port Alberni. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Hiker rescued after cold few hours in the bush outside Port Alberni

Alberni Valley Rescue Squad said they receive frequent calls for people lost on this trail

The Rogers Creek Trail main trailhead is located on the Redford Extension in Port Alberni. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
A 17-year-old snowmobiler used his backcountry survival sense in preparation to spend the night on the mountain near 100 Mile House Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021 after getting lost. (South Cariboo Search and Rescue Facebook photo)

Teen praised for backcountry survival skills after getting lost in B.C.’s Cariboo mountains

“This young man did everything right after things went wrong.”

A 17-year-old snowmobiler used his backcountry survival sense in preparation to spend the night on the mountain near 100 Mile House Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021 after getting lost. (South Cariboo Search and Rescue Facebook photo)
Emma Nunn from Alberni Valley Rescue Squad waits at the summit of Mount Arrowsmith for the rest of the AVRS rope rescue team on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021. (PHOTO COURTESY DAVE POULSEN, AVRS)

UPDATE: Injured hikers among three rescued in the dark from Mount Arrowsmith

‘It was a very bad, very precarious spot to be able to locate them’

Emma Nunn from Alberni Valley Rescue Squad waits at the summit of Mount Arrowsmith for the rest of the AVRS rope rescue team on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021. (PHOTO COURTESY DAVE POULSEN, AVRS)
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada said a lack of experienced crew members and the inability to detect navigational errors is what led to a Sooke search and rescue boat running aground in February 2019. (Twitter / @VicJRCC_CCCOS)

TSB: Sooke search and rescue boat crash caused by ‘misinterpretation of navigational information’

Crew members were lacking experience and unable to detect navigational errors

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada said a lack of experienced crew members and the inability to detect navigational errors is what led to a Sooke search and rescue boat running aground in February 2019. (Twitter / @VicJRCC_CCCOS)
After four days, Juan de Fuca Search and Rescue have called off their search for Langford’s Timothy Ross, 38. They presume he drowned while kayaking. (Contributed - RCMP)

All search efforts for missing Langford man called off in Sooke

Langford’s Timothy Ross, 38, most likely drowned, according to JDF search and rescue

After four days, Juan de Fuca Search and Rescue have called off their search for Langford’s Timothy Ross, 38. They presume he drowned while kayaking. (Contributed - RCMP)
After four days, Juan de Fuca Search and Rescue have called off their search for Langford’s Timothy Ross, 38. They presume he drowned while kayaking. (Contributed - RCMP)

Search called off for kayaker missing near Sooke, officials say

Langford’s Timothy Ross, 38, most likely drowned, according to JDF search and rescue

After four days, Juan de Fuca Search and Rescue have called off their search for Langford’s Timothy Ross, 38. They presume he drowned while kayaking. (Contributed - RCMP)
Nanaimo Search and Rescue has created Rescue Our Rescuer, a fundraiser for search and rescue technician Janet Rygnestad, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer and will be off work while she undergoes treatment throughout much of 2021. (Photo contributed)

Nanaimo Search and Rescue launches ‘Rescue Our Rescuer’ for deputy chief who has cancer

Fundraiser started for search and rescue technician Janet Rygnestad, diagnosed with breast cancer

Nanaimo Search and Rescue has created Rescue Our Rescuer, a fundraiser for search and rescue technician Janet Rygnestad, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer and will be off work while she undergoes treatment throughout much of 2021. (Photo contributed)
A CH-149 Cormorant helicopter from CFB Comox is taking part in the search for a missing kayaker near Sooke. (File - Black Press Media)

Air search for missing Langford kayaker called off

Ground search continues; kayaker set off near Sooke at noon Sunday

A CH-149 Cormorant helicopter from CFB Comox is taking part in the search for a missing kayaker near Sooke. (File - Black Press Media)
A CH-149 Cormorant helicopter from CFB Comox is taking part in the search for a missing kayaker near Sooke. (File - Black Press Media)

Search continues for missing kayaker near Sooke

Kayaker set off near Ella Beach at noon Sunday

A CH-149 Cormorant helicopter from CFB Comox is taking part in the search for a missing kayaker near Sooke. (File - Black Press Media)
Campbell River Search and Rescue saw a 28 per cent increase in calls in 2020. Photo from Campbell River Search and Rescue/Facebook

Campbell River Search and Rescue sees 28 per cent increase in calls in 2020

Although call increases have been creeping up over the past decade, 2020 saw a spike

Campbell River Search and Rescue saw a 28 per cent increase in calls in 2020. Photo from Campbell River Search and Rescue/Facebook