Penticton and District Search and Rescue (PENSAR) has stayed busy this summer, as it came to the aid of two lost hikers on Thursday, Aug. 1.
The volunteer team 鈥� after responding to several calls on July 27 and 28, both locally and from across the province 鈥� says it most recently rescued two hikers dealing with warm temperatures and lack of water.
Its first call on Thursday came from the area of Nickel Plate Lake, as PENSAR deployed ground crews to assist the RCMP dog team already on location.
While the team was en route, PENSAR said, it received another call for a lost hiker in the Derenzie Lake area above Okanagan Falls.
"Thankfully, it was determined that the RCMP had successfully located the first subject, and was escorting them out to BC Ambulance for assessment," PENSAR said in a social media post. "The team was then able to rapidly divert and re-deploy to the second call."
The volunteer rescue team says it landed a helicopter in the area above Okanagan Falls and loaded the second subject to get them back to safety quickly.
"PENSAR wishes to thank the other agencies involved with each of these rescues, especially the RCMP, Topflight Helicopters, and BC Ambulance," it said.
With Thursday's two rescues, local crews have responded to eight calls in as many days.
PENSAR also on Saturday thanked the hikers for "proactively engaging rescue services."
"If you are aware that people are looking for you, please try to make yourself as visible as possible 鈥� find a clear spot away from the base of trees," it said. "Using a whistle when searchers are on the ground nearby is an excellent way to help them locate you more easily."
