The crew of an RCAF Cormorant search and rescue helicopter assisted in the successful medical evacuation of an injured woman Thursday from a remote location on Bute Inlet.
The woman was at her home and suffered possible injuries in a fall. A call for assistance was received through Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Victoria and a Cormorant from 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron was launched to respond to the location, approximately 112 kilometres from Campbell River, along Bute Inlet.
“We had a strong wind of roughly 50 km/h pushing down the [Georgia] Strait along the way,” said Major Justin Olsen, aircraft commander. “The ceilings were 500 to 1000 feet, but we were able to stay under them, flying with our night vision goggles.”
The helicopter crew landed the aircraft on a nearby heli-logging airfield and two Search and Rescue Technicians (SAR Techs) disembarked to provide aid and evacuation.
“We stabilized her, loaded her on a spine board and took her back to the helicopter,” said Master Corporal Kurt Schmidt, SAR Tech.
The helicopter crew then flew to Campbell River airport and transferred the patient in stable condition to the care of a waiting BC Ambulance crew for transport to hospital.
Quick Facts
• A Royal Canadian Air Force CH-149 Cormorant helicopter was involved in the medical evacuation.
• The helicopter is from 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron, based at 19 Wing Comox.
• The patient was transferred to BC Ambulance at approximately 8:40 p.m. on Jan. 2 at the Campbell River airport. She was in stable condition upon transfer.
— 19 Wing Comox
