442 Squadron begins busy SAR season
A 442 Squadron helicopter responded to an emergency call on Vancouver Island after a 52-year-old man suffered injuries while riding his dirt bike in a remote area near Cowichan Lake. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon, June 4, near the top of a hill known as Hill 60. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria received a call by cell phone from a friend of the injured man who reported that there had been three of them riding their dirt bikes when his friend was injured after hitting a broken tree on an old logging road.
The JRCC tasked a Cormorant to the scene in response due to the remote location. The crew flew to the last known position while they awaited further information from the caller. The clouds were rolling in, making the weather an additional concern. The crew searched for the riders until they were able to establish direct contact. Due to the low ceiling, the Cormorant crew landed in a safe area approximately a kilometre down from the three men.
"It would have taken hours for a ground team to get on site," said Master Warrant Officer Mike Vattheuer, search and rescue technician. "Even we had a quite a hike up hill from where we landed. The crew had to shut down the helicopter and assist us in getting the equipment to the site.
"The fellow had been hit quite hard in the chest and was in serious condition, but he was stable. It took our five crewmembers and our patient’s two friends to get the injured biker out by stretcher. Some of us carried the Stokes litter and a couple had to carry IV bags and other equipment."
The injured biker was flown to the Victoria International Airport, only ten minutes away.
Upon returning to 19 Wing, the Cormorant was retasked to assist with a 15-year-old male who was in the water near Nanoose Bay after his vessel overturned. The father of the teenager called JRCC after witnessing his son overturn. The 15-year-old was able to swim to Ada Island, where he was met by a zodiac that had his father on board. The Cormorant stayed on scene until the crew was certain that no medical support was required. Once the teenager’s safety was confirmed, the Cormorant crew returned safely to Comox.
Crews from 442 Squadron also participated in a mission on Saturday, June 2. A Cormorant helicopter and Buffalo aircraft from 442 Squadron were tasked to perform a medical evacuation from a cruise ship that was approximately 10 nautical miles from Cape St. James in the Queen Charlotte Islands. A 64-year-old male passenger was suffering from internal bleeding and required a higher level of medical care. Two SAR Techs hoisted from the Cormorant to the ship to meet the ships medical staff and prepare the patient for hoist to the helicopter, while the Buffalo provided top cover and communications assistance. The 442 Squadron aircraft then returned to 19 Wing Comox, where the patient was transferred to an awaiting ambulance in Comox.
