17 campers helicoptered from remote Coquitlam site, as weather fouls exit plan

COQUITLAM, B.C. – Search and rescue crews in Coquitlam, B.C., say they had to conduct a “non-urgent helicopter evacuation of 17 campers.

Messages posted on social media by the rescue team on Friday say the 17 were stranded at Widgeon Lake.

The area is a popular hiking destination west of Pitt Lake, north of Coquitlam.

The search team says the campers had chartered a float plane to carry them to an area at the lake that is difficult to access by foot.

No one has been hurt but Coquitlam Search and Rescue says poor weather has prevented the plane from picking up the group.

It says the campers made the “difficult decision” to call for help because they are running out of supplies.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 7, 2020