Fort Nelson, B.C. – An injured hunter is safe and recovering from a broken foot, having been rescued from the side of a mountain.

 

RCMP say two Fort Nelson men were on a hunting trip that had them travel upstream m on the Road river to a base camp, then hike up the side of a mountain.

 

On Sunday, Northern Rockies RCMP received a report of a distress signal through the use of a Satellite GPS Messenger. The emergency beacon signal was sent from an area near Toad River.

 

Within a few hours approximately 18 to 20 more emergency help signals were received from the same GPS location.

 

RCMP identified the registered owner of the GPS Unit and confirmed with family that 2 males from Fort Nelson were on a hunting trip,  the emergency beacon GPS coordinates determined the men were on the mountainside.

RCMP along with the Northern Rockies Search & Rescue, traveled to the scene and located the truck and boat trailer belonging to the two men. However, due to poor weather conditions, thick fog and nearing darkness, it was too dangerous to venture into the area.

 

Yesterday , RCMP and Search and Rescue personnel flew to the area aboard a local Helicopter where they located the two stranded men high up on the side of a mountain. It was determined one of the men, a 40 year old Fort St John resident, had broken his foot and was unable to hike back down the mountain to their base camp. Both men were rescued and flown to Fort Nelson where the injured hiker received medical attention. 

 

 Cst. Lesley Smith, North District Media Relations Officer, says the rescue of the two was successful because of several reasons, first, both men were well equipped, experienced, healthy, back country travelers. They had a plan and mapped out the area they would be hunting and had discussed their plans with their families. Through the use of their Satellite GPS Unit, RCMP and Search and Rescue were able to locate them quickly and bring them home safely.