Quick-thinking hikers unravel turbans to help with rescue at Metro Vancouver park
A group of quick-thinking young men were forced to get creative by using their turbans as a makeshift rope to help rescue a pair of hikers in a Metro Vancouver park earlier this month.
Five friends were enjoying their hike at the Lower Falls Trail at Golden Ears Provincial Park when they saw a commotion.
"They said, 'Two people are stuck there. Can you help them? Can you call 911?'" said Kuljinder Singh.
They saw two fellow hikers stranded on a large rock by the edge of a fast-moving river.
Singh said he and his friends did not have cell phone reception but they knew how to improvise.
"We didn't have any other equipment to save them," the 22-year-old said. "We only had our turbans to save them."
So the three wearing turbans unravelled the headdress to make a rope along with their jackets.
"In my Sikh culture, the turban is for that, to help save the life of people who need the help," explained Singh.
The two stranded hikers used the makeshift rope to eventually pull themselves to safety.
Unbeknownst to them, Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue was called and volunteers were already on their way, but by the time crews got there, their services were no longer needed.
"Quite amazed," said search manager Rick Laing. "I'd never heard anything like that or seen anybody doing anything like that. I thought it was quite resourceful – they showed great presence of mind to put something together in such a short time."
Laing also applauds the friends for keeping themselves out of danger by staying away from the water.
He said crews are called to that area by the waterfalls at least once a year and sometimes, the calls are for a recovery effort.
He said it is a good reminder for outdoor enthusiasts to stay away from creeks and rivers with high water levels.
"The water is extremely fast and there is pretty much no chance of survival if you would've fallen in and gone over the waterfalls," he said.
The video of the rescue has now been viewed thousands of times.
"My family and my whole Sikh community feel proud of us," Singh said.
While many people are calling them heroes, he does not see themselves that way.
"In Sikh culture, you have to save their lives, it's not a matter of (being a) hero," he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
NASA hears from Voyager 1, the most distant spacecraft from Earth, after months of quiet
NASA has finally heard back from Voyager 1 again in a way that makes sense. The most distant spacecraft from Earth hadn't sent home any understandable data since last November.
Australian police arrest 7 alleged teen extremists linked to stabbing of a bishop in a Sydney church
Australian police arrested seven teenagers accused of following a violent extremist ideology in raids across Sydney on Wednesday, as a judge extended a ban on social media platform X sharing video of a knife attack on a bishop that started the criminal investigation.