Shortly after 2:15 PM Saturday Oliver Osoyoos SAR were alerted that one member of a 4 person group climbing in the McIntyre Canyon area north of Oliver had fallen and required a medical evacuation.

OOSAR Search Manager Rob SELSING advised that the information received confirmed that a male in his late 30’s to early 40’s had fallen a short distance and injured himself, however the injuries according to his fellow climbers were not deemed to be life threatening.

SELSING quickly determined that due to the terrain and storms threatening the area that the best way to evacuate the injured climber in a timely fashion would be to contact Penticton SAR and request the assistance of their HETS (Helicopter Evacuation Transport System) Team. BC Emergency Coordination Centre was contacted which in turn contacted Penticton SAR manager Dale JORGENSON.

A team of six members and one Rescue Truck from OOSAR was sent to set up a staging area for the Helicopter Team in the Barisoff Gravel Pit about 3/4 of a km from Hwy 97 in the McIntyre Canyon area.

The HETS Team located the injured hiker (a male believed to be in his 20’s) administered first aid and safely transported the injured climber and another person to the staging area to an awaiting BC Ambulance.

The injured male was transported to hospital for treatment. No other details of the injuries are available.

Copy and picture supplied by Penticton SAR