An RCAF Cormorant helicopter crew from 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron assisted BC Ambulance to evacuate an injured motorcyclist from Rivers Inlet early Sunday morning.
With its ability to fly in very challenging weather, BC Ambulance requested support from a 442 Squadron Cormorant helicopter to aid in the evacuation of the man who had been thrown from his motorcycle late Saturday evening.
The call was received through Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Victoria and the helicopter crew was joined by an advanced-care paramedic team from BC Ambulance.
The helicopter left CFB Comox at approximately 12:30 a.m. Sunday and flew directly to the remote settlement, approximately 130 km southwest of Bella Coola.
“We had thick fog layers to deal with as we left Comox,” said Capt. Pete Wright, Cormorant pilot. “However, we were fortunate that there were some clearings around Rivers Inlet, despite most other inlets along the coast being socked in by fog and clouds.”
The helicopter landed at the Rivers Inlet airstrip and paramedics and RCAF Search and Rescue Technicians departed to retrieve the patient.
Once the patient was ready for transport, he was loaded onto the helicopter and flown to Vancouver International Airport through clouds and fog, where he was transferred to BC Ambulance in serious condition for transport to hospital. His present medical status is unknown.
— 19 Wing Comox