A Cormorant helicopter from 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron evacuated an injured paraglider last week from a mountainous area near Duncan.
The crew of the Cormorant was already on a training flight near Victoria when the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre received a call from BC Ambulance, requesting help to evacuate the injured man after he crashed his paraglider into dense forest on a steep hill.
Once overhead, Search and Rescue technicians (SAR Techs) prepared for the 70-foot hoist into the crash site.
“We had some challenging terrain to deal with during the rescue,” said Sergeant Dan Verret, lead SAR Tech. “The BC Ambulance personnel had already immobilized and splinted him though.”
After hoisting the injured paraglider onboard, the Cormorant flew to Victoria General Hospital where he was transferred in stable condition.
— Submitted by 19 Wing Comox