A hiker was airlifted to hospital after they fell more than 45 metres (150 feet) near the Trent River, south of Comox, on Tuesday afternoon.
The Comox Valley RCMP received a 911 call about a man falling 45 metres near the Trent River around 1:45 p.m.
Dispatchers called frontline officers, as well as BC Emergency Health Services and ground search and rescue teams to assist with the call.
However, it was two members of the RCMP Emergency Response Team (ERT), who were near the area at the time of the call who arrived at the scene first.
The two ERT members were able to rappel down the cliff and assess the hiker’s condition while other officers cleared a landing site for an air ambulance.
“Our Emergency Response Team members undergo extensive training to handle high risk and diverse emergency situations such as armed standoffs; however, they also have specialized training in various rescue techniques, including rope rescue,” said Const. Monika Terragni, Media Relations Officer with the Comox Valley RCMP.
“Their diverse skill set and dedication were crucial in accessing the injured hiker in the challenging terrain yesterday,” she said.
Police say the air ambulance then picked up the hiker and transported him to hospital, where he remains in critical condition Wednesday.
The Inland Island Highway was also closed intermittently during the rescue, and RCMP say they’re grateful for commuters’ patience during that time.
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Correction: A previous version of this story said the hiker fell into the Trent River. In fact, RCMP say the man fell in a wooded area near the river.
Adam Chan
