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Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) found and extracted three hikers and their furry friends from a difficult situation in the backcountry on Wednesday afternoon.
Members were called out to the High Rim Trail between Oyama Lake and Beaver Lake Road for the task.
“The two men and one woman started the hike in Oyama where the conditions were favorable, but as they progressed south, the trail deteriorated,” explained Ed Henczel from COSAR.
“The three were in waist deep snow when the female suffered a medical incident and was unable to continue.”
Fortunately, they managed to find cell phone coverage and were able to call for help.
Given the woman’s injuries, COSAR used a helicopter to fly in a medical team to stabilize her before she was airlifted away to a waiting ambulance at the airport just before dusk.
However, the helicopter was unable to return for the two men due to darkness, so COSAR members remained at the scene and started a fire.
That, and some warm drinks, helped the men stay warm while a four-member COSAR snowmobile team made their way to the scene to complete the rescue.
“By 9:45 pm, the team had dropped off the hikers near Beaver Lake Lodge to a waiting ambulance where they were checked and released to family members,” Henczel explained.
With the helicopter medical team and snowmobile teams included, COSAR’s response on Wednesday featured 20 members.
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