- Date
- jeudi 11 décembre 2014
- Étiqueté sous
Snowmobiler Alive After Serious Accident
Dramatic Rescue in Clemina Creek
A snowmobiler is lucky to be alive after his ride went terribly wrong on Sunday, December 7. He and his group were riding in the Clemina Creek area near Valemount, BC when he rode over the top of a peak and fell over a cliff on the other side.
Fortunately for the victim, Curtis Pawliuk was teaching an Avalanche Skills Training course in the vicinity and witnessed the accident. Pawliuk, who is also on the board of directors for Avalanche Canada, went into action immediately and contacted the local Search and Rescue team, which mobilized Parks Canada’s high-angle rescue team.
“Curtis did all the right things very quickly,” said Rupert Wedgwood, Visitor Safety Manager for Jasper National Park. “The sledder had a broken femur and was lucky not to have damaged himself more.”
“There were many things that went right during this rescue—some of it preparation and most of it luck,” said Pawliuk. “Luck was on our side by providing the softest landing site possible, a decent weather window that allowed helicopter flight, mild temperatures, and a start zone that withstood the heavy impact of the sled and rider (without causing an avalanche).”
After close to four hours on the slope, the victim was in the Parks’ rescue helicopter and on his way to the hospital where he is expected to make a full recovery.
“With daylight hours being limited the prompt actions taken by Curtis likely prevented this becoming another sad statistic,” noted Wedgwood. “Curtis presented himself throughout as extremely professional and the best of ambassadors for the snowmobile community.”
“We all love what we do in the backcountry and no person intends on making these kinds of mistakes,” added Pawliuk. “Mountain recreation is a serious activity that deserves the utmost respect. This involves proper pre-trip planning, situational awareness and preparation for anything that may go wrong. I learned a lot from this experience and I hope others will too.”
For a video of the rescue, click here.