An injured West Coast Trail hiker who had fallen about six metres onto a steep section of jagged rocks was lifted to safety Saturday by helicopter.
Two members of the Alberni Valley Rescue Squad and one from Arrowsmith Search and Rescue trained in fixed-line rescue oversaw the lowering of a harness from a helicopter to bring the hiker aboard.
The teams were called in by the Pacific Rim National Parks visitor safety team, and used Pacific Gateway Marina in Port Renfrew as a staging area, before setting out to an area on the trail known as Thrasher Hill.
Thrasher Hill is near the southern end of the trail and just across the bay from the marina, said Nick Rivers, Arrowsmith Search and Rescue president and search manager.
By the time the helicopter reached the hiker, two people from Parks Canada had already rendered first aid.
The hiker’s injuries were described as moderate, and included injuries to the abdomen.
The hiker was flown to the marina and a waiting ambulance, and transported to hospital.
Rivers said Arrowsmith Search and Rescue frequently works with the Alberni team on rescues.
“We’ve performed about 50 helicopter long-line rescues in the last two summers, us and Alberni together,” he said.
