19 WING COMOX, B.C. — Search and Rescue crews from 442 Squadron responded to a paraglider crash on Mount Cheam, near Chilliwack, B.C. Sunday, September 23rd.

RCAF Search and Rescue Technicians were hoisted almost 300 feet from a hovering Cormorant helicopter to the injured paraglider early morning on Sunday. The incident took place at a height of 4900 feet, with steep terrain complicating the rescue.

“We were pulling a lot of torque, using all the power our three engines could give us to maintain the hover, allowing our SAR Techs to descend with the rescue basket,” said Captain Pete Wright, pilot. “Because the terrain was steep, we didn’t have a lot of room to maneuver the helicopter and we had to be careful the downwash from our rotors didn’t blow debris onto the patient.”

“We got on scene, assessed his injuries and stabilized him,” said Sergeant Steph Clavette, SAR Tech “He was cold with serious injuries so we had to be very careful.”

Once on-board the helicopter, the patient was flown to Abbotsford where he was transferred into the care of BC Ambulance. His present condition is unknown.

The rescue came after earlier attempts by another Cormorant helicopter Saturday night had been frustrated by clouds and difficulties in determining the location of the downed paraglider, that helicopter suffered a mechanical difficulty later that night.

Search and Rescue incidents under the federal SAR mandate are defined as “all aircraft incidents and all marine incidents in waters under federal jurisdiction. With the exception of federally owned National Parks, the overall responsibility for land and inland water search and rescue rests with the provinces, territories and municipalities. The Canadian Forces may, however, provide assistance to land and inland water rescues when possible