North Shore Rescue saves injured hiker abandoned by hiking mates
Credit to Author: Stephanie Ip| Date: Tue, 01 Oct 2019 15:57:43 +0000
North Shore Rescue are voicing major concerns after saving an injured hiker who was left behind by her hiking mates on Sunday evening.
On Sunday around 7 p.m., NSR was called out to the Coliseum Mountain Trail above Norvan Falls for a woman who had injured her ankle and was unable to walk. She had been with a larger group but the other four had gone ahead and were not in sight.
The injured hiker was later found by another passing hiker who was able to call 911 in an area with poor reception and then assisted her down the trail.
Rescuers arrived to the Lynn Headwaters and Rice Lake trailhead to find the original hiking group preparing to leave the area. They told rescuers they had been hiking with the woman but split into two groups, with three in a faster group and the woman and a man in the slower group.
The male hiker also later left the woman behind though it’s unclear if he left before or after the ankle injury.
NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C.: SEPT. 29, 2019 – North Shore Rescue were called to assist an injured female hiker on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019 around 7 p.m. on Coliseum Mountain Trail, above Norvan Falls. The hiker had been left behind by her group, which had no plans to call 911 for assistance.
“This group was planning on leaving the area and had no plans to call 911,” said a statement shared by NSR.
“Obviously, this is extremely concerning that a hiking group would leave one member behind and had no plans to contact authorities.”
The Good Samaritan stayed with the hiker and helped her get down the trail until NSR members arrived and where able to provide first aid.
A search manager later had a “long chat” with the original hiking group, which had met via an online meet-up website or app, emphasizing that not calling 911 if someone is left behind or doesn’t return could be “a very bad, life-threatening decision.”
“We would like to thank the Good Samaritan for his actions, phoning 911, and assisting the injured hiker until crews arrived,” said NSR.