This afternoon the NSR Helicopter External Transport (HEC) team responded to the Qualicum Beach area of Vancouver Island to assist Comox Valley Search and Rescue with a mutual aid longline evacuation of an injured hiker. The 36-year-old hiker sustained multiple serious injuries, and upon Comox Search and Rescue stabilizing and packaging the patient, the decision was made that a helicopter longline extraction was the optimal form of transportation for the subject.
The 3 member NSR HEC team departed from our Cap Gate helicopter base on board a Talon Helicopters‘ aircraft. Upon arrival at the scene, they worked with Comox SAR personnel to extract the subject to waiting BC Ambulance Service paramedics at a nearby landing zone.
Great inter-agency cooperation and good weather made for a straightforward, albeit technical operation with a successful outcome.