The UTV that was used to bring the Coroner to the scene, and recover the body of a West Kelowna father who died while snowmobiling east of Kelowna yesterday, Jan. 8, 2018.
Image Credit: Submitted
January 09, 2018 - 10:23 AM
KELOWNA - RCMP say a West Kelowna man died after a medical emergency he suffered while snowmobiling yesterday.
Mike Milligan, 39, collapsed shortly after 12:30 p.m. while snowmobiling with family and friends in the Graystokes area east of Kelowna.
Cpl. Jesse O'Donaghey says 911 received a call of a male in medical distress inside a cabin known as "The Hilton."
"Police had learned from the caller, who had travelled approximately 20 minutes by snowmobile to be able to call for emergency services, that the male was with a group of family and friends when he suddenly collapsed," he says in a release.
Central Okanagan Search And Rescue crews and the Big White Fire Department were called to assist but emergency crews were confronted with poor cellular and radio reception.
SAR manager Rob Braun says Vernon SAR's Helicopter was able to land near the cabin, but rescusitation efforts were unsuccessful.
"At that point our role became one of recovery, under the direction of the RCMP and Coroner's service," he says in an email.
Bill Petten posted the sad news to the Kelowna Snowmobile Club Facebook page late Monday, Jan. 8.
"What started as an amazing day ended tragically around 1 p.m. with the passing of our friend Mikey Milligan," he writes. "Ryan, Rob and Brandon, who performed CPR for over an hour and a half did everything possible.
"Mikey leaves behind a young daughter, are prayers are with her and his family tonight."
The death is not believed to be suspicious in nature.
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