SUNDRE — Assisted by multiple agencies, Sundre RCMP were involved in a successful search and rescue operation to locate a 19-year-old male who became lost after straying from a backcountry campsite yesterday
At about 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18, the Sundre RCMP detachment received a call from a concerned backcountry camper who informed authorities his camping partner had been missing for nearly six hours after wandering away from their Burnt Timber campsite without shoes or a jacket, police reported in a press release issued earlier today.
The successful operation involved a coordinated effort that included the local RCMP, Calgary HAWCS, the Cochrane RCMP, Sundre Search and Rescue, Red Deer RCMP Police Dog Services, as well as Terry Safron, the owner of the Lodge at Panther River and a seasoned backcountry helicopter pilot.
“Terry was a tremendous help,” Sgt. Trent Sperlie, the Sundre RCMP detachment’s commander, told the Albertan. “Especially with his backcountry experience and knowledge of the area and of course due to his experience as a pilot.”
As the search was underway, the missing individual briefly managed to obtain a strong enough cellphone service reception to send his GPS coordinates to his camping partner, police reported.
“Using this information, Calgary HAWCS and Terry Safron flew the area and the missing person was eventually spotted from the air,” the RCMP said.
As the helicopter crew was unable to land due to the heavily wooded area where the male was found, HAWCS acted as the eyes in the sky to guide RCMP members from Cochrane and Sundre on the ground to the missing person’s location.
“He was walked out by members and didn’t require any medical attention at roughly 5 p.m.,” reads a portion of the RCMP press release.
The 19-year-old male, who is reportedly from out of the area, was not named.
The RCMP expressed gratitude to everyone involved in the operation, and Safron specifically “for volunteering his time and aircraft to go way beyond what was expected.”
Authorities also remind outdoor enthusiasts to ensure they are adequately prepared to venture out into the backcountry by carrying appropriate gear.
“Inexperienced backcountry campers should seek information about their activities prior to heading out,” said police.
