LBSAR resources tested with summer emergency rescue events
Lions Bay residents have had their eyes on the skies this past week, as Lions Bay Search and Rescue (LBSAR) has put the yellow Talon rescue helicopter through it's paces with multiple fly-overs.
The crew has responded to three separate airborne rescue events over the past seven days. On the ground, a further three callouts brought the total to six during the second half of July.
On July 12, a call came in for a hiker suffering severe abdominal cramps. As the hiker had made it a significant distance down the logging road, Lions Bay Fire Rescue (LBFR) responded. The LBFR team recovered the incapacitated hiker and handed them on to BC Ambulance Service (BCAS).
LBSAR manager Ed Langford notes the benefits of inter-agency response to emergencies in the back-country. "Often many resources can become involved to resolve any particular case. This includes extensive helicopter use for fast, efficient and potentially life-saving outcomes."
Two days later, a late-night call came in from two climbers stranded on the West Lion.
"These folks had attempted the North Buttress route but were actually on the wrong spine," said Langford. The hikers found themselves on a precarious knife-edge ridge and were unable to make it down without help.
It was the fifth call that day for North Shore Rescue (NSR), who performed a night hoist of the two cold climbers, who were dressed only in shorts and T-shirts, and returned them to Lions Bay. The couple had left backpacks loaded with their overnight gear at the base of the climb.
On July 18 the helicopter was called in again to extricate a hiker attempting Brunswick Peak. "This was an extremely dehydrated 41 year old lady, whose energy had been sapped by severe vomiting," said Langford. He added that another hiker had rendered assistance, but had no extra fluids on hand. LBSAR team members were able to treat the hiker on scene and then move her to a suitable spot for helicopter extrication down to a waiting BCAS ambulance in Lions Bay.
That same week, LBSAR were called out to Anvil Island to find an eight-year-old child who had gone missing from a group hike. "As it turned out, the fellow was 13-years-old," said Langford, noting that the boy was visiting from out of the country and had managed to travel a great distance off trail.
"Given the late afternoon call and the age of the subject, a number of agencies were involved," said Langford. In the end, 21 field members from Lions Bay were joined by
the RCMP and a dog team from Squamish, who were delivered to the scene by Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue. While the LBSAR team fanned out to various locations on the ground, the RCMP helicopter circled the island and spotted the missing child from the air.
Lions Bay members were then dropped from the chopper in a remote location and bushwacked their way to the missing child, and then were lifted out of the area. "Truly a successful outcome," said Langford. "The young lad was delivered back to camp for further assessment by camp doctors."
He noted that a drone from Squamish SAR with thermal imaging capacity was ready for deployment. Also on tap (but not needed) was a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) scanning system developed by Martin Colwell of LBSAR.
This past Saturday, LBSAR teamed up with NSR to bring a hiker with a broken ankle down from Mt. Brunswick trail. LBSAR helped stabilize the hiker and she was long-lined out with a Lions Bay member and a NSR member. Saturday's event ended up being a double-rescue, when a member of the LBSAR team was injured on the scene and had to be stretchered out by long-line as well, returning just before sunset.
Langford noted that with the recent rain, there has been a reprieve from the high temperatures, "but we remind hikers that there is little to no water available for rehydration, so any strenuous activity people need to be carrying adequate fluids." He added that the trails have become very dry and are loose, so caution and good footwear is recommended.
He also reminded hikers to carry a charged cell phone with a spare battery, as well as a head lamp and spare clothes. Even in July, a broken ankle means waiting for rescue and cold can set in. "We have been applying heat vests and winter puffy jackets to subjects who have been found cold, dehydrated and hungry."
He noted that helicopter extrications are not guaranteed, and stranded hikers often need to spend the night, so being well-equipped is essential.
"If help is needed, call 911 and state the nature of the emergency," he said, adding that calling early is beneficial for all involved.
A reminder that both LBSAR and NSR conduct these rescues without question or charge, and, as this week's injury shows, at risk to their own safety. Donations, which are used to cover costs of equipment and training, are gratefully accepted and can be made to LBSAR HERE and NSR HERE.
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I am so impressed that Ed has devoted his life to LBSAR. I recall going up Mt. Unnecessary at eleven o’clock at night with him when he was a teenager. Now past his mid fifties he is still as dedicated as ever.
Lions Bay is lucky to have Ed still willing to answer the call 24 hours a day