Fraser Valley (Kent Harrison Search and Rescue) – KHSAR was tasked around 5PM Friday night (October 24) for two lost fishermen on the Chehalis River delta. The fishermen’s coordinates were obtained and a ground team was deployed to access them from the west side of the delta. After two unsuccessful attempts, more swiftwater members from Kent Harrison and Chilliwack Search and Rescue were called in to cross the river from the east and find a new route. The team rafted across the river and were able to traverse the dense bush to the fishermen and escort them back to a waiting UTV from Sts’ailes Fire Department.
With the rainy fall season upon us, we would like to urge fishermen and hikers to be cautious when hiking near rivers and streams, as heavy rain can cause water levels to rise quickly and streams to avulse from their channels, blocking trails and egress routes. These fishermen did the right thing by calling for help when they realized they would not be able to get back to their car and staying in one place while our teams tried to access their location.
Thank you to Chilliwack SAR for sending additional swiftwater members and using their drone to confirm the subjects location. Another big thank you goes to the members of Sts’ailes Fire Department who transported our members, gear, and the subjects along the dike and provided essential knowledge of the local UTV trails. Their assistance was integral to bringing a positive outcome to this task.
