Mission RCMP along with Search and Rescue (SAR) teams from Mission and Central Valley have rescued an injured hunter after he fell from a ridge in the Davis Lake area yesterday, a rural area of Mission.
According to Mission RCMP Cpl. Sharon Siluch, a 26-year-old Delta man and his 26-year-old friend from Surrey were going hunting yesterday near Davis Lake, but their families contacted police when they didn't return.
Mission RCMP found their vehicle last night and contacted Mission SAR but opted to wait for daylight. Mission SAR coordinated a ground search and the Lower Mainland Traffic Safety Helicopter was called to assist with an air search this morning.
According to RCMP, the hunters' vehicle broke down on Sylvester Road yesterday, and they became lost after trying to walk out. One of the two hunters fell from a ridge and sustained a "serious hemorrhage" to his knee making it impossible to walk. The uninjured hunter stayed with his friend throughout the night before hiking out this morning.
Just after 10 a.m., one of the missing men walked out of the woods and was met by a SAR volunteer. The helicopter located the second man at 10:45 a.m. and he was transported by air ambulance to hospital.
“It is always important to be prepared if you plan on being outdoors for any length of time,” said Siluch. “In this case, these men were prepared as they had with them provisions that kept them warm and dry.”
Early reports are that the hunter is in "good condition" and his injuries are considered non-life threatening.