Two Separate Backcountry Incidents Prompt Pemberton District SAR Response
Pemberton District Search & Rescue responded to two separate calls for service today: The first was a backcountry snowmobiler with a dislocated shoulder near Appia Lake by the Pemberton Ice Cap.
A second call for service came in just as the first patient was being handed over to BC Ambulance Service: A backcountry skier had fallen into a 30-meter deep crevasse near Rhododendron Mountain and was unresponsive. Pemberton District Search & Rescue responded with a medical and extraction team but unfortunately, the 38-year-old male succumbed to his injuries. “The extraction from the crevasse was a very technical operation for the team”, says David MacKenzie, SAR Manager. “A second team from Whistler SAR was dispatched to provide assistance to the Pemberton team”.
Skiing in backcountry areas means severe weather and avalanches are real hazards. You and everyone in your group must be self-sufficient-carrying all the proper gear (transceiver, shovel, and probe) and have avalanche training. AdventureSmart is a great resource to help you get informed before heading outdoors and always remember the three Ts – trip planning, training, and taking the essentials.
About Pemberton District Search & Rescue
Pemberton District Search & Rescue is a volunteer team of members providing search & rescue services at the request of the RCMP or BC Ambulance Service covering over a 20,000 square kilometer area in Southwestern British Columbia.