Missing snowmobiler rescued in Greystokes area near Kelowna

The Central Okanagan Search and Rescue team spent seven hours yesterday searching for a missing man.

The team received a call around 5 p.m. to rescue the 60-year-old sledder who was separated from his group while sledding in the Greystokes area, according to COSAR.

The man was found just before midnight suffering from exposure to the winter conditions. Members of the Kelowna Snowmobile Club also assisted with the search.

The B.C. Search and Rescue Association recorded the highest number of incidents ever in July with 333 search and rescue related events. The trend of outdoor exploration during the pandemic is expected to continue in the winter months, said Ed Henczel, with Central Okanagan Search and Rescue, in a previous interview with iNFOnews.

READ MORE: Kamloops, Okanagan search and rescue teams prepare for busy backcountry season

Fourteen new rescue members were put through snowmobile training, avalanche training and avalanche recovery team training this winter, he said, adding that roughly 24 volunteers already have that certification with the search and rescue team.

“We’re facing a record number of calls,” he said.

There were 71 calls recorded for COSAR since January 2020 to November. The rescue group averages around 60 calls a year during a regular season.

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