December 04, 2013 - 12:11 PM
HOUSTON, B.C. - A hearty trapper who was thrown from his boat on a lake near Houston, B.C., managed to swim to shore in frigid temperatures and even shared breakfast with his rescuers.
When RCMP received a 911 call from a satellite messenger GPS unit, they headed off to Morice Lake with a search and rescue team, staff from the Fisheries Department and local residents who know the remote area.
Staff Sgt. Stephen Rose says the 11 rescuers first had to deal with unplowed roads as they raced to launch their boat and then faced battering winds and overnight temperatures of -20 C to reach the outdoorsman who'd activated his beacon.
Rose is crediting the rescuers, including two of the trapper's friends, for spending nearly 11 hours on the rescue effort.
Rose says the 62-year-old trapper who started a fire as he waited for help did everything right by having adequate equipment, clothing and a communication device to keep himself safe.
The trapper was in good shape when he was brought back to Houston, about 85 kilometres northeast of the lake, and shared his breakfast with rescuers at a local restaurant where his adventure became the talk of the town.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2013