Search and rescue teams helped injured hikers and cyclists at several locations on the Island during a busy B.C. Day long weekend.
A 70-year-old mountain biker was airlifted out of Englishman River Falls Park near Parksville on Friday when he took a fall off a steep embankment on one of the park’s challenging mountain-biking trails.
The cyclist sustained “significant” injuries that required Arrowsmith Search and Rescue crews to call in a helicopter to retrieve him from difficult terrain. Traffic had to be stopped in the park to accommodate the air operation.
On Saturday, another injured mountain biker was airlifted for medical attention in the Burnt Bridge area near Shawnigan Lake.
Cowichan Search and Rescue and the Shawnigan Fire Department stabilized the seriously injured mountain biker. Since an air ambulance could not be landed near the site, a long-line team, including Arrowsmith and Alberni search and rescue members and Airspan Helicopters, lifted the man out to a waiting ambulance.
On Thursday, Juan de Fuca Search and Rescue responded to a hiker who suffered a lower-body injury in East Sooke Park. A combined team of Metchosin Search and Rescue and Peninsula Emergency Measures Organization search and rescue carried the hiker out.
On Saturday morning, a Juan de Fuca Search and Rescue crew and Shirley Fire assisted a hiker with significant injuries at China Beach.
The injured hiker blew a whistle, which alerted other hikers, who called 911 and directed first responders to the hiker’s location. The hiker was carried out.
