The crew of a Royal Canadian Air Force CH-149 Cormorant helicopter conducted a medical evacuation of an injured hiker on the West Coast Trail on Wednesday, August 13, 2014.
• On August 13, Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Victoria received a call from Parks Canada indicating that a hiker with a leg injury was in need of evacuation from a remote portion of the West Coast Trail. The hiker was on the beach near Dare Point (south of Nitinat Lake), Vancouver Island.
• The 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron crewmembers left their base at 19 Wing Comox at approximately 12:45 p.m. and flew to a rendezvous point on the beach with Parks Canada personnel. Parks Canada first responders arrived earlier by rigid-hull inflatable boat and performed initial first aid.
• The woman and her hiking partner were able to alert rescue crews by using a personal radio.
• Upon arrival shortly after 1:15 p.m., Search and Rescue Technicians prepared the middle-aged woman for the 80-foot hoist via rescue basket into the hovering helicopter.
• The patient and her hiking partner were flown back to 19 Wing Comox. The patient was transferred to a BC Ambulance for transport to hospital. Her present medical condition is not known.
-Contributed by 19 Wing Comox
