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A Cormorant helicopter was tasked to rescue a 28-year-old male hiker off a ledge on Mount Mark, located on Vancouver Island, on Saturday night, October 21. Ground search and rescue volunteers were making efforts to rescue the man, however, as night fell and the temperature dropped the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria launched the helicopter to assist.

The Cormorant departed 19 Wing Comox in thick fog and within a few minutes was on scene. The crew used night vision goggles and then the ‘night sun', a powerful light mounted underneath the helicopter, to locate the hiker, who was on the side of a cliff hanging onto a tree.

"When we got into position for the hoist sequence, we were hovering at 2700 feet above ground level," said Capt. Sean Morris, aircraft commander. "The SAR tech had a radio strapped on him and we lowered him about 130 feet to the hiker. The pilots, flight engineer and SAR Techs work closely with word direction in a hoist of this nature."

Capt. Morris and his crew held the position, the rotors less than three metres from the cliff. Once lowered to the site where the hiker was clinging to the tree, Sgt. Scott Elliston, search and rescue technician, explained to the hiker how he would be hoisted on board. The hiker was attached to Sgt. Elliston by a "horse collar" and then they were double hoisted to the helicopter.

"He [the hiker] had been camping with friends in the area and they decided to ‘scramble' up Mount Mark on the South face, which is fairly steep," said Sgt. Elliston. "This fellow got to a point where he couldn't get any further up, but couldn't get down either. He did not have a partner or rope and found himself stuck on a small ledge with a tree, which he grabbed on to!

"One of the individuals in his group was able to get up close enough to call out, but not close enough to assist. The Arrowsmith GSAR were doing great work, but because the man was not dressed for a night in the cold, it was determined we should get in and try to get him out as quickly as possible. He was scratched up and cold, but overall doing okay. He was also very thankful for the efforts made by everyone to help him."

The Cormorant returned to Comox and the hiker was transferred to EHS.

No further information is known on the condition of the man.

 

Cormorant crew: Capt. Sean Morris, aircraft commander, Capt. Troy Kearns, first officer, Master Cpl. Carl Schouten, Sgt Scott Elliston and Master Cpl. Eric Soubrier, SAR Techs.

 

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NOTE TO EDITORS: There are no DND images from this mission

19 Wing Public Affairs Officer, Captain Cheryl Robinson (250) 339-8201.

Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (Victoria): (250) 363 2995.