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Dramatic rescue mission plucks injured loggers from remote site

Just after 11:30 on Monday morning BC Ambulance launched their rescue helicopter to reach the logging zone not accessible by ground. A crew of loggers were working south west of lady smith near Holland Lake when something happened on a steep embankment that seriously injured the two men. Once the helicopter arrived on scene paramedics were dropped into the location, but the helicopter could not land to load the wounded loggers aboard.

The victims were stabilized on scene, but needed hospital care badly. BC Ambulance then sought the help of the provinces specialized “North Shore Search and Rescue” team. The organization has their own helicopter  equipped with special tools to lift victims from remote and rugged terrain. Once the second chopper arrived it still took several hours to devise a plan to safely remove the badly hurt workers.

Throughout the lengthy rescue mission British Columbia’s forestry community held its breath hoping the men would survive their ordeal. CEO with the BC Forest Safety Council Peter Lineen said ” at times like this our thoughts go to the organizations, the families, and the crews on the ground”. Lineen was quick to point out already this year the forest industry has claimed the lives of three men in BC, and safety needs to be priority one on every site across the province.

Just before 5 PM on Monday both injured loggers had been airlifted from the cold snowy hill that almost claimed their lives. Both were moved to Nanaimo’s Regional General Hospital with undetermined injuries.