A jogger from Qualicum Beach is home safe and uninjured after being airlifted off Mount Horne Saturday night by a military helicopter.
At 11:00 p.m. Saturday, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Victoria responded to a call from the RCMP about a missing jogger on Mount Horne, west of Qualicum Beach, according to a news release from the Department of National Defence (DND).
Other than feeling the effects of the cold weather, the jogger was in good health and did not require medical attention, according to the DND. A CH-149 Cormorant helicopter from 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron was tasked to assist the RCMP and Qualicum Ground Search and Rescue.
"This is our first mission of 2015 for 442 Squadron and a successful one," said Captain Pete Wright, Aircraft Commander Cormorant Helicopter Pilot, 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron. "Again, the efficiency and expeditiousness by which we conducted the SAR was a result of the prompt alerting procedure by JRCC and by the RCMP and by ground SAR volunteers who kept in contact with the missing jogger."
Ground SAR volunteers maintained cell phone contact with the jogger. At 12:10 a.m. the Cormorant helicopter arrived on scene and the crew used night vision goggles to locate the jogger.
Within minutes, the jogger was found on a logging road near the top of Mount Horne. Search and Rescue Technicians (SAR Techs) hoisted down 150 feet to retrieve the jogger who was transferred to Qualicum Airport and met by RCMP and family members.
“This SAR mission demonstrates the close partnership between the Canadian Armed Forces, the RCMP and local ground SAR volunteers,” said the DND news release.
“This young woman knew exactly what to do to signal us to her location,” said Master Warrant Officer Gavin Lee, Search and Rescue Technician, 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron. “She stayed in an open area and effectively used her headlamp as a signalling device. Her spirits were extremely high once we hoisted her onto the Cormorant and she was more than grateful to have been found.”
— NEWS Staff/DND