2015/10/9

Halifax District RCMP, Department of National Defence, and Halifax Fire and Emergency personnel rescued two stranded hikers on McNabs Island late last evening.

At approximately 7:55 p.m. last evening, Halifax District RCMP and Halifax Fire and Emergency personnel responded to a call that two hikers were stranded on McNabs Island.

Preliminary investigation determined that two male tourists from Germany, a 70-year-old and a 40-year-old, went to the island for the day to do geocaching.

The 70-year-old man became physically distressed after leaving a trail in the woods, and was unable to negociate his way back to the starting point. He then summoned the 40-year-old man who was able to locate him, but was unable to help him out of the woods. The men then contacted police and provided the coordinates of their location.

Halifax District RCMP and Halifax Fire and Emergency went to McNabs Island and eventually located the stranded party, but were unable to remove the men due to the difficult terrain. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre was then engaged, who dispatched a cormorant helicopter to airlift the hikers to safety. At approximately 11:25 p.m., the rescuers, hikers, and their 11-week-old German Shepherd all arrived at CFB Shearwater. The 70-year-old hiker was treated and released by Emergency Health Services personnel.

Halifax District RCMP would like to thank Halifax Fire and Emergency, Department of National Defence, and Emergency Health Services personnel for their assistance with this rescue effort.

Source: Release