VSAR Rescues Injured Camper
An injury that seems small in town, on the Aberdeen Plateau, can strand you.
September 13 2026 - An injured arm might sound like a small problem in town.
On the Aberdeen Plateau Saturday morning, it was enough to leave a camper stranded.
Without volunteer crews like Vernon Search and Rescue, that kind of injury can turn into a much longer, more dangerous wait on remote forest roads.
VSAR was rolling by about 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning after RCMP asked for their assistance.
The camper, who was in the backcountry south of Lavington, had called 9-1-1 around 7:30 a.m. saying he was injured and could not drive.
RCMP pinged the phone to give crews a starting point. VSAR treated that only as a guide. In fringe coverage, pings can be off, people sometimes move after they call, and deactivated roads, washouts and seasonal bridge work can turn the plateau into a maze.
Six volunteers went out in three vehicles and brought ATVs. They reached the camper about 9:45 a.m., checked for other medical problems, moved the patient into a vehicle and drove out to pavement.
An ambulance took over around 10:30 a.m.
VSAR Rescues Injured Camper
VSAR describes the rescue as "a quick one". The difference between a treatable injury and a backcountry emergency is often trained volunteers like those in Vernon Search and Rescue.
Comments