Quesnel Search & Rescue were called to the scene of a boating incident in the Bowron Lake Chain on Sunday. (June 21)
Public Information Officer Bob Hollowenko says the incident happened at around 11 a.m. on a stretch between Lanezi Lake and McLeary Lake.
He says a couple became separated when the canoe overturned.
“The male subject was not anywhere to be seen, it was the female subject who thankfully had one of those SOS signaling devices with her, we believe it was an I phone based satellite device and was able to signal for help. That started the ball rolling. From there we were able to get in contact BC Parks and let them know where the incident was happening, and a couple of their operators were able to find the male subject as we were en route. So at that point we were able to take that activity from being a search to being an extraction.”
Hollowenko says the couple was unable to continue their trip.
“Unfortunately their canoe did get tied up in a river feature, we call it a strainer (an obstruction in the water that allows the current to pass through but traps solid objects such as boats and people) There was just no safe way to access their canoe without either parks operators or others being in danger, so unfortunately they were unable to get their canoe or their provisions, which meant that they were no longer able to continue around the chain.”
Hollowenko says two of their team members then went in with a helicopter and, after a quick assessment of the couple, who he says were in really good care.
“The BC Parks folks made a point of having afire going for them in a cabin, got them nice and warm and were able to return them back to Quesnel where we handed them over for a cursory check by BC Emergency Health Services.”
