News
RCAF participates in another successful SAR rescue
Sept. 24, 2012, Val-d'Or, Que. - A crew from 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron from 19 Wing Comox, who was participating in the National Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) in Val-d'Or earlier this week, was called for help, this time to rescue a severely injured hunter approximately 450 kilometres north east of Val-d'Or.
September 24, 2012 By Carey Fredericks
A second aircraft, a CC-130 Hercules from 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron from 8 Wing Trenton, was also dispatched to respond to the call at approximately 5 p.m yesterday. The two Search and Rescue Technicians (SARTechs) onboard the Hercules parachuted to the ground to reach the injured man and immediately began to provide him with medical care. The man was suffering from hypothermia and had lost a significant amount of blood due to his injury. The CH-149 Cormorant helicopter, sent from Val-d'Or, retrieved the injured man and two SARTechs and transported them to the nearby town of Chicoutimi, where he
was met by the local ambulance service.
"We are certainly glad that our crews were able to assist another person in distress in the Val-d'Or region this week. The entire SAR community is always ready to provide help when it is needed", said Lieutenant Colonel Jean Bernier, Deputy Officer Conducting Exercise, SAREX 2012. "We train very hard to maintain the highest level of readiness to assists Canadians, given all the resources at our disposal."
Earlier in the week, another crew involved in SAREX 2012 responded to a call for a downed aircraft near Baie Comeau and on Wednesday a third crew helped rescue a local woman who had been missing and was lost in a wooded area near Val-d'Or.
The Canadian Forces conducted SAREX 2012 in Val-d'Or from September 16-22, 2012. SAREX 2012 is a national exercise that is held annually, which allows the Royal Canadian Air Forces to exercise its contributions to the National Search and Rescue Program. The goal of SAREX is to provide an opportunity for military training, facilitate liaison between SAR units and contribute to public awareness about interoperability with regional and national agencies.
