Penticton Search and Rescue (PENSAR) and the Penticton Fire Department managed to save an injured hiker using a helicopter in the Wiltse Heights area Sunday (Nov. 22) afternoon.
Just before 2 p.m., PENSAR received a report of a 21-year-old woman who was stuck on a hiking trail with an injured leg.
The woman was hiking with a friend who called 911.
Two search and rescue members and two fire department members were able to locate the woman within 30 minutes of receiving the call for help.
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The search was aided by a local trail mapping app called , said PENSAR manager Randy Brown.
Because of the woman鈥檚 condition, cold weather and the looming threat of darkness, PENSAR members determined a helicopter was necessary to get the woman to hospital safely and quickly.
PENSAR members called out for the help of a helicopter to airlift the injured hiker down the mountain. She was transported by air to the Penticton airport and taken to Penticton Regional Hospital by B.C. Ambulance Services where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
high angle rescue crew helped out a hiker with knee injuries off the mountain yesterday. requested a helicopter to lift the patient safely off the Mountain once got her to a safe landing area.
鈥� Penticton Fire Chief (@pentictonfire)
As Penticton has seen more rescues on hiking trails than ever this year, Brown stressed the importance of always being prepared for the worst.
鈥淎lways make sure you鈥檙e wearing enough clothing. You never know what鈥檚 going to happen,鈥� said Brown. 鈥淢ake sure you鈥檙e prepared with proper footwear and a communication device.鈥�
Brown stressed that this rescue was heavily aided by the injured hiker using the app. Through the app, PENSAR was able to find the woman鈥檚 exact coordinates immediately through the app鈥檚 SOS feature and locate her quickly.
Had she not have had the app, the rescue could have taken much longer, potentially putting PENSAR members and the injured hiker in a dangerous spot as nightfall approached.
Brown encouraged all hikers to download the app, especially as there has been an unprecedented amount of rescues this year in the Penticton area.
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jesse.day@pentictonwesternnews.com
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