10 rescues, 9 days: Arrowsmith Search and Rescue face one of its busiest stretches

A complex overnight hoist rescue at Horne Lake capped off one of the busiest stretches Arrowsmith Search and Rescue has seen, with volunteers responding to emergencies almost every day during early July.

The July 10 rescue at the Horne Lake Amphitheatre required a highly technical response involving ground search teams, rope rescue specialists and Arrowsmith’s Class ‘D’ Fixed Line (CDFL) hoist team. With assistance from Comox Valley Search & Rescue, the injured climber was safely airlifted out in what became Arrowsmith Search and Rescue’s first operational nighttime hoist rescue.

The operation was the final call in a demanding stretch that saw volunteers respond to incidents almost every day between July 3 and July 10, including multiple days with more than one call.

“A busy month would be nine calls for us,” said Arrowsmith Search and Rescue president Nicholas Rivers. “To see that just coming day after day after day after day is definitely an uptick.”

The busy period began July 3, when crews responded to an injured hiker at Nile Creek and carried out a hoist rescue with support from ground search and rescue teams.

On July 5, volunteers were called to two separate incidents, a response at Stamp Falls and a stranded climber rescue at Bonnell Falls. Nanaimo Search and Rescue and Lions Bay Search and Rescue provided assistance during those operations.

The team returned to Stamp Falls on July 6 for another search and rescue response.

On July 7, Arrowsmith crews handled two calls: an overdue hiker search on Mount Arrowsmith and another incident at Stamp Falls.

The following day, volunteers assisted Coombs-Hilliers Volunteer Fire Department with a dog rescue.

On July 9, the team responded again to Stamp Falls before heading into the final day of the busy stretch.

On July 10, crews were first dispatched to Horne Lake after receiving a report of a person in the water. Shortly afterward, they were called to the nearby amphitheatre for the injured climber rescue, which continued into the night.

Before the string of rescues began, team members spent July 4 and 5 taking part in a large-scale training exercise hosted by Animal Search and Rescue, alongside about 100 volunteers from across Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. Rivers said the team responded to two rescue calls immediately after the training wrapped up.

“The team has been phenomenal,” Rivers said. “People are a little bit tired, but we’re recovering well.”

The sustained pace also meant Arrowsmith relied on neighbouring search and rescue teams for support.

“We’ve been assisting with Alberni Valley Rescue Squad, and we’ve had Nanaimo Search and Rescue and Comox Valley Ground Search and Rescue helping us out as well,” Rivers said. “Without the support of our neighbours, we definitely couldn’t do it.”

The recent string of rescues also highlighted the impact of new equipment and training. Rivers said the team’s recently acquired cargo drone has quickly become an indispensable tool.

“I’m unsure how we lived without it before,” he said. “It has totally revolutionized what we can do and the speed at which we can provide help and assistance.”

The July 10 climber rescue also became the first real-world test of Arrowsmith’s newly certified nighttime hoist capability.

The injured climber was located in steep terrain below a rock wall at the Horne Lake Amphitheatre. Rescue crews spent several hours carrying the patient by stretcher to an area where a helicopter could safely perform the hoist.

Rivers said previous nighttime rescues in similar terrain often meant waiting for specialized resources from the Lower Mainland, and in this case, a Royal Canadian Air Force Cormorant helicopter would not have been able to safely access the confined location.

“Without having any delay, we were up and going,” Rivers said. “We were able to get in and get her out as quickly as possible and right into the hands of the ambulance, largely without delay.”

The rescue wrapped up around 1:30 a.m. Rivers said that before the team received nighttime hoist certification, rescuers likely would have had to remain with the patient until daylight.

“It would have been a lot of pain for the individual,” he said. “It would not have been an enjoyable night to have to sit in the bush for that many hours.”

Rivers said he hadn’t expected to put the new capability into service so soon after certification.

“I kind of assumed it would be a tool in the toolbox and not really be pulling it out within a week or so of getting certified, but we’re putting it to work,” he said.

Despite the unusually high number of rescues, Rivers said the incidents weren’t the result of people being unprepared.

“Honestly, it’s just a lot of accidents,” he said. “I think everybody’s been quite well prepared. People are out recreating and having fun, which is amazing to see. In all these cases, accidents happen, and that’s why we’re here.”

Rather than discouraging people from exploring the outdoors, Rivers had a simple message for the public.

“Keep having fun,” he said, “and know we’re here for you.”

Arrowsmith Search and Rescue relies on trained volunteers who respond to emergencies across the region, often balancing rescue calls with their personal and family commitments.

For the team, every mission comes down to the same goal: reaching people when they need help and helping bring them home safely.