On Monday night at approximately 5:30 p.m. the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Victoria responded to a call from Emergency Health Services and the RCMP about an injured hiker on Mt. Finlayson, west of Victoria.
Quick Facts
• A CH-149 Cormorant helicopter from 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron was tasked to assist.
• Upon arrival, two Search and Rescue Technicians (SAR Techs) hoisted onto the mountain ridge in close location to where other responding agencies were already on scene.
• In a combined effort, Search and Rescue Technicians (SAR Techs) and Langford Ground SAR volunteers had successfully located the injured hiker.
• The SAR Techs administered appropriate medical first aid before hoisting the hiker into the Cormorant helicopter. Within minutes the hiker was transferred to a nearby hospital and treated by medical staff.
• This Search and Rescue (SAR) demonstrates the close partnership between the Canadian Armed Forces, Emergency Health Services, Langford RCMP and Fire Department, and the local ground SAR volunteers.
• JRCC Victoria is operated by a team of SAR experts from both the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Coast Guard. They can task dedicated military SAR aircraft, CCG SAR vessels to respond to maritime and aeronautical incidents anywhere in British Columbia, the Yukon and nearly 600 miles into the Pacific Ocean.
Quotes
“All night missions are challenging and emphasize the importance of training and teamwork. In this case, the Cormorant crew and the Langford responding agencies worked closely together to safely hoist the injured hiker from a precarious location.”
– Captain Stu Robertson, Deputy Officer in Charge, JRCC, Victoria
“The terrain was quite steep, which proved to be challenging in finding an ideal location to hoist the hiker out off the mountain. With the aid of the others agencies involved and the hiker’s friend, we could get to the casualty quickly, administer medical assistance immediately and transport him to medical help right away.”
– Sergeant Guy St. Denis, Search and Rescue Technician, 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron
