A North Vancouver, B.C., rescue team expects to be able to respond to emergency calls in the North Shore mountains much more quickly than ever before with its new resource: a helipad.
The North Shore Search and Rescue team believes its new helicopter landing pad and emergency gear station will help them to save the lives of hikers and skiers who are in danger in the area.
Loaded with everything a two-person team would need for an overnight rescue mission, the station is stocked with specialized tools like stretchers, helicopter kits and water gear, according to Jeff Yarnold with North Shore Search and Rescue.
The team maintains a similar facility in the Seymour Mountain demonstration forest, but is hoping to eventually have helipads on both nearby Cypress and Seymour mountains.
Team member Tim Jones said the helipad has already been a huge asset to the team even though it only officially opened on Saturday.
"High up in the snow line, we had a young girl who was in a gully and was really panicking," he said. "We were able to launch a hasty response with the helicopter right out of here, and they spotted her and we were able to get a three-man team to her, that quick."
But there is no public funding available to cover the cost of the new helipad - and the cost is an estimated $150,000.
North Shore Search and Rescue secured funding for the resource through several private companies, including Don Willoughby's company, which donated $50,000.
"I just felt that I wanted to do something that would make their work safer for them," he said. "And by making this donation they could acquire new equipment that would make their job safer for them."
With a report from CTV British Columbia's David Kincaid
