Sunshine Coast RCMP Const. Karen Whitby was recently honoured with a Commanding Officer’s Letter of Appreciation at an awards ceremony at the B.C. RCMP Headquarters, in recognition of Whitby’s actions in saving the life of a Sechelt man last year.
During the afternoon of June 2, 2015, Whitby was dispatched to check on a 56-year-old man from Sandy Hook, after neighbours became concerned when they were unable to contact him. Whitby and Cpl. Aaron Janzen went to the house and found the front door unlocked and the man’s vehicle in the driveway. Being unable to contact him, the officers searched the house and were alarmed to find Angie – the man’s dog – inside without food or water.
Whitby was aware that the man loved his dog and found it unlikely that he would have left Angie in such a state. An extensive search of the property did not turn up any clues, and neighbours were also unaware of where he might be. Hoping that the man may just be visiting a friend, or have gone to the Lower Mainland for the day, the officers gave Angie some food and water, and left the residence, planning to return again the following morning.
Early that evening, just as Whitby was getting ready to finish her shift, she couldn’t help thinking that maybe they had missed something. Whitby followed her intuition and returned to the area of the residence again, along with Janzen and Const. Kevin Mayes. Whitby planned to search several vacant lots in the area, and also let Angie out, thinking the dog might find its owner.
When Whitby began searching nearby areas, a shiny quarter lying in the grass caught her eye. Beyond that she saw a lighter, and beyond that, a pen. Angie ran ahead of Whitby and began barking at some turkey vultures and an eagle circling in the sky. Whitby ran to where the dog was and looked down to the bottom of a cliff, where she saw the missing man lying on his back.
The officers quickly climbed down to the male and found him barely alive, only able to move his lips. Paramedics attended and provided immediate medical attention, while members of the Sechelt Fire Department worked to cut down trees and provide a safe route through the steep and rocky terrain. The man – who was hypothermic and unable to speak – was immediately airlifted to Vancouver General Hospital.
A doctor later told police that he believes the man had been lying there for 36 hours, and likely would not have survived one more night if he had not been rescued. After three months of treatment, the man made a full recovery. He has since returned home and was reunited with his faithful dog.
“After I left the property the first time, I had a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach,” Whitby said. “The feeling kept getting worse, and as I neared the end of my shift, I knew I had to go back. When I first saw the man lying there, I thought he was dead, but my devastation quickly turned to elation when we discovered he was alive. The paramedics and firefighters did such a great job of helping the man to get the medical attention he so desperately needed, and the man’s dog Angie is especially deserving of recognition for helping us to find him. I am so very thankful that the situation had a good ending.”
For Whitby’s diligence and determination, she was presented with a Letter of Appreciation from Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens, the commanding officer of RCMP in B.C.
Sunshine Coast RCMP detachment commander Staff Sgt. Vishal Mathura also praised Whitby for her actions: “While Const. Whitby’s efforts that day are exemplary of the high standard of police work our officers give to our communities every day, it must be recognized that Const. Whitby truly went above and beyond, trusting her instincts and demonstrating a sense of real caring and compassion for this individual. We are proud of Const. Whitby and are fortunate to have her here on the Sunshine Coast.”
