Sunshine Coast Search and Rescue and Sunshine Coast RCMP helped rescue a pair of stranded hikers last Saturday from Soames Hill in Gibsons.
Shortly before 11 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, a mother asked RCMP for help after her son called saying he and a friend couldn't get down from Soames Hill.
“The 20-year-old male and his 21-year-old female friend, both from the Sunshine Coast, had hiked up Soames Hill in the afternoon, and consumed a large amount of liquor at the top,” said Const. Harrison Mohr. “The female was too intoxicated to walk down on her own, and RCMP called out Sunshine Coast Search and Rescue (SAR) to assist.”
Mohr said within one hour, 20 volunteer members of SAR had assembled at a command post set up on Bridgeman Road.
“SAR members hiked up the hill, located the pair, and helped them hike down,” he said. “They were both safely out by 4 a.m. The male was examined on scene by paramedics, while the female was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital for observation.
“Search and rescue did a terrific job as usual. The Sunshine Coast is lucky to have such a dedicated and professional group of volunteers who come out at a moment’s notice.”
With the warmer weather upon us, police want to remind people to be prepared when they are venturing out into the wilderness.
“Even a short hike can pose all sorts of hazards when the unforeseen happens, whether it be an injury, getting lost, a change in weather, or nightfall,” added Mohr. “Mixing alcohol with a hike in the wilderness can be a dangerous mix, and these young adults are lucky that search and rescue were there for them.”
