Hikers, boaters rescued in busy 24-hour period for Alberni Valley volunteer SAR team

Four incidents keep Alberni Valley Rescue Squad active over summer kickoff weekend. (Alberni Valley Rescue Squad)

The start of summer brought a full workload for the Alberni Valley Rescue Squad (AVRS), with volunteers responding to four separate incidents over a 24-hour span involving hikers, cyclists and boaters across the region.

The first response came late Friday night around 11 p.m., when a ground team was deployed to a remote backcountry area near Port Alberni, B.C., after a hiker began experiencing lower-body pain near the end of their route. Although the person was close to finishing the hike, they had run out of water and required assistance. Volunteers completed a medical assessment, provided water and helped guide them safely off the trail.

Saturday brought two separate backcountry responses. Around 5 p.m., crews were called to the Inlet Trail after a cyclist walking a bike along a narrow section lost their footing, which resulted in a head injury. The response included both marine access and an air-supported deployment, with assistance from Ascent Helicopters Ltd. The patient was airlifted from the area and transferred into the care of BC Emergency Health Services paramedics. Support was also provided by Arrowsmith Search and Rescue.

Later that evening, around 10 p.m., AVRS crews worked alongside Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue after boaters had mechanical issues in the inlet. After beaching their vessel, the group tried to walk back along a logging road but called for help. Search teams found them safely and escorted them out.

Just after midnight, at approximately 12:15 a.m., AVRS boat crews responded to Sproat Lake, where a boater was unable to return to shore following engine trouble. Volunteers assisted the vessel back safely without further incident.

In a social media post, AVRS says a common issue across multiple callouts is people moving after requesting help, which can make rescue operations more difficult in unfamiliar or remote terrain. The squad, made up entirely of volunteers, emphasized the importance of staying put once assistance has been requested unless you’re in danger.

AVRS says the series of callouts reflects how quickly conditions can change during outdoor recreation, particularly as summer activity increases across trails and waterways in the Alberni Valley.