Arrowsmith Search and Rescue was called out to Horne Lake around 6 p.m. New Years Eve when a couple had got stuck in about 60 centimetres of snow, according to ASAR search manager Nick Rivers.
The couple was trying to get to Cook Creek on a backroad loop from Horne Lake in their SUV, Rivers explained, adding they were found about 22 kilometres from ASAR’s Horne Lake command post when they were located.
“They called a tow company to get them out, the tow company went in with a truck and that truck got stuck in the snow as well,” he said. “That’s when they called search and rescue.”
Rivers said just as ASAR was about to send up a quad team, the tow company sent another truck with four-wheel drive up.
“They got them out and they were back at our command post by 9:30 p.m.,” said Rivers.
Seventeen search members responded to the call Thursday evening.
Rivers said the subjects were in good condition when they were found, noting they were well-prepared with food and water and located in time to ring in the new year.
The New Years Eve call was the second over the holiday season for ASAR, following one on boxing day where a man in his 50’s was reported missing at 2 a.m.
Rivers said the man was quickly located by a search and rescue volunteer who spotted the missing person while responding to the call.
“These were the first two calls where we used our new rescue truck since it’s been put into service,” said Rivers. “It’s been stored in Qualicum Beach and the town has been very helpful in giving us space to store it in the old bus garage in Qualicum Beach.”
