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Skier found safe thanks to Oliver/Osoyoos Search and Rescue teaming up with North Shore Rescue

Skier found safe by crews

Contributed Rob Iezzi

UPDATE: 9:40 a.m.

The Oliver/Osoyoos Search and Rescue Team was called out late on Friday afternoon for a lost skier who had gone out of bounds from the Mount Baldy Ski Area.

The team shared an update on Saturday morning after successfully rescuing the skier alongside the North Shore Rescue team.

After receiving a call from the Emergency Coordination Centre for a lost skier, OOSAR was able to make phone contact with the subject and asked him to stay where he was.

"As members were getting ready to deploy, we were able to get the subject’s coordinates to give us a general location. Four members with two snowmobiles and a tracked quad responded to the ski area," OOSAR said.

"With the cold temperatures and knowing that we might be dealing with a number of trees down on our access route due to the recent heavy snowfalls, a request was made to ECC to see if the night vision and winch-equipped helicopter from Vancouver was available."

Talon Helicopters along with members of NSR were available and headed out east.

As weather between the coast and the Baldy area could affect the helicopter response, OOSAR had their members prepare for a possible snowmobile ride into the mountains to rescue the subject.

"Fortunately, the weather cooperated and the helicopter was able to attend. The aircrew located the subject in the area of the coordinates we had received and inserted a member by winch to extract the missing skier."

The Baldy parking lot was secured and set up for a landing zone.

"The helicopter dropped a very cold but very thankful skier off with us to reunite with his friends," OOSAR added.

"This skier did the right thing, as soon as he realized he was lost he called 911. He also stayed in his location until he was rescued. His friends also did the right thing by reporting him missing to the ski hill as soon as they realized he was not with them."

"We would like to thank North Shore Rescue and Talon Helicopters for their assistance. The Mount Baldy Ski Patrol for the use of their location for our base on the hill. The Mount Baldy locals who offered assistance if we needed them."

The OOSAR team wanted to remind every that although there were a number of resources used on this task, there is no charge for rescue.


UPDATE: 9:34 p.m.

Crowds gathered at Baldy Mountain Resort on Friday night as the North Shore Rescue team helicopter flew over and came down to assist the Oliver/Osoyoos Search and Rescue with their mission.

Local resident Rob Iezzi captured the helicopter arriving at the mountain on Friday night and said he was happy to see the lost skier located.

NSR shared an update on Facebook that they have successfully located, and hoisted out the lost skier near Mt Baldy, assisting Oliver-Osoyoos SAR.


ORIGINAL: 8:20 p.m.

The Oliver/Osoyoos Search and Rescue Team is heading outside of Oliver to Mount Baldy with the North Shore Rescue team on Friday night.

The team shared on Facebook that NSR’s NVG helicopter rescue team is responding with Talon Helicopters to the Baldy area for a night rescue/night hoist mutual aid call.

OOSAR said there will be more details to come.



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