424 Squadron Crew medevacs injured canoeist north of the Bay

22 Wing/CFB North Bay
News Release

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8 WING/CFB TRENTON — A canoeist was air-lifted to hospital aboard a 424 (Tiger) Squadron’s CH-146 Griffon helicopter after getting injured while canoeing on Elk Lake approximately 200 km north of North Bay at 9 p.m. EST, July 8.

The canoeist had injured his neck while portaging at Elk Lake. The call for assistance occurred at 9:30 p.m. EST, July 8. Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Trenton received a call from the North Bay OPP Communications Centre and requested to evacuate the injured boy from Elk Lake

While assisting in the portage of a canoe, the boy slipped and the canoe struck the boy in the neck. A SPOT beacon being carried by the group was activated when the boy complained of severe neck pain. Both the CC-130 Hercules and CH-146 Griffon from 424 Squadron were dispatched from Trenton.

The Hercules was able to establish communications with the people on scene and the details of the injury were then relayed to both JRCC and the inbound helicopter. The Search and Rescue Technicians were hoisted into the scene upon their arrival and administered care. The patient was hoisted onto the helicopter.

The canoeist was subsequently flown to Laurentian Hospital in Sudbury in stable condition and good spirits.

Search and Rescue (SAR) incidents under the federal SAR mandate are defined as “all aircraft incidents and all marine incidents in waters under federal jurisdiction. With the exception of federally owned National Parks, the overall responsibility for land and inland water search and rescue rests with the provinces, territories and municipalities. The Canadian Forces may, however, provide assistance to land and inland water rescues when possible.

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