Search-and-rescue crews used a boat and helicopter to bring an injured hiker out of rugged terrain along the Della Falls Trail northwest of Port Alberni on Tuesday.
The Alberni Valley Rescue Squad crossed Great Central Lake by boat to get a medical team to the trail and locate the female hiker. She had continued down the trail assisted by fellow hikers and was met by a medical team.
The hiker was taken by boat across the lake to a waiting helicopter and flown to meet paramedics who transported her to West Coast General Hospital in Port Alberni.
The hiker’s injuries were not disclosed.
In a social media post, the Alberni Valley Rescue Squad said that while the hiking group was well prepared, it is important to stay put after calling for help.
“This is a friendly reminder to always try to flag a helicopter after requesting [search and rescue],” the squad said. “You can use a flashlight or anything to reflect light through the canopy.”
The squad said many of the calls to search and rescue teams in the province use multiple resources, and thanked search managers, ground search crew, Arrowsmith SAR, Airspan Helicopters, paramedics and West Coast General Hospital.
The province sees about 1,750 search and rescue calls per year, says the B.C. Search and Rescue Association.
