A daring nighttime rescue in northeast BC, this week was the very first search and rescue mission for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) newly-commissioned aircraft.
According to Naval Lt. Keil Kodama, a horseback rider required “urgent medical assistance” in an area 185 kilometres west of Fort Nelson at 10 pm local time on Tuesday, July 15th.
With a lack of ground and air support, local authorities called in the assistance of the RCAF, with a CC-295 Kingfisher and CH-149 Cormorant helicopter responding.
“It was a hunter that was crushed by a horse,” said Master Cpl. Max Honeyman. “Information was pretty limited. We didn’t know a lot of details but we were going.”
A medium tactical transport aircraft, the CC-295 Kingfisher is the newest fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft used by the RCAF and was first commissioned in May.
Taking flight from Canadian 19 Wing Comox Air Force base on Vancouver Island, search and rescue technicians parachuted from the Kingfisher, and after a hike, located the injured rider.
The plane’s pilot, Maj. Dan Faux, said the crew “had to take their time a little bit” due to a lack of lighting.
“We had to be able to see if we were able to dispatch some jumpers,” said Faux.
The rider was then airlifted to safety following immediate medical attention. A press release said the rider was airlifted first to Fort Nelson and then to Prince George for “higher-level” emergency medical care.
