After being lost for approximately 40 hours in a remote area of Quadra Island, two lost hikers have been found and will soon be transported out of the area via a long-line helicopter extraction.
B次元官网网址淲e have located our ladies,B次元官网网址� says Paul Berry, Search and Rescue Commander for the search, B次元官网网址渁nd weB次元官网网址檙e just waiting on an extraction at this point.B次元官网网址�
The missing pair pulled the attention of numerous search and rescue teams from all across Vancouver Island, as well as from the Lower Mainland.
The women were found by rescuers B次元官网网址渋n good condition,B次元官网网址� Berry says. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e cold, theyB次元官网网址檙e wet, theyB次元官网网址檙e hungry and theyB次元官网网址檙e in a river drainage to the south of their destinationB次元官网网址ut no significant injuries apart from some hypothermia.B次元官网网址�
Berry says the two women went for what was supposed to be an hour-long walk on Wednesday evening just before dinner and were reported missing the following morning when they did not return home.
B次元官网网址淭he search was initiated right away and weB次元官网网址檙e now into our second operational period for these two missing women in the Village Bay/Surge Narrows area of Quadra Island,B次元官网网址� Berry said Friday morning. B次元官网网址淐urrently we have members from every SAR team on Vancouver Island here on Quadra, as well as teams from the Lower Mainland, as well. WeB次元官网网址檝e got K9 resources as well as ground-search personnel, weB次元官网网址檝e utilized 442 Squadron, night vision equipment and forward-looking infrared throughout the night, but nothing has been located at this point.B次元官网网址�
Berry says the area was very remote and challenging.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not at all a popular hiking area,B次元官网网址� Berry says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very remote and itB次元官网网址檚 very steep and itB次元官网网址檚 very slippery.B次元官网网址�
Crews quickly located the head of the trail itB次元官网网址檚 believed the women were hiking when they located their vehicle parked nearby.
B次元官网网址淭hey did drive to the area where the family said they were going to hike a trail, but itB次元官网网址檚 not a very well-defined trail. The car was parked in the vicinity, but not right at the trailhead,B次元官网网址� Berry says.
There were some early rays of hope throughout the search, Berry says, but it took some time to actually locate the women.
B次元官网网址淭here was some belief that there were prints located yesterday, but it was not definitive that they belonged to our missing persons,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淭hey had a dog with them, and he popped his head out of the bush early this morning in the vicinity of their vehicle, but immediately jumped back in the bush.B次元官网网址�
Cellphone signals or B次元官网网址減ingsB次元官网网址� couldnB次元官网网址檛 be used to help track the pair, as they did not have phones with them, nor is there cell service in the area.
As with any SAR operation, time was of the essence.
B次元官网网址淭hey were not well-prepared to be out in the conditions,B次元官网网址� Berry says. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檇 only planned on being out for an hour or so and back by dinner.B次元官网网址�
