It was a cold night for a Kelowna teen who became separated from his family Monday afternoon and ended up spending the night alone in the Greystokes area.
The boy, 14, became separated from his family around 4 p.m. and Central Okanagan Search and Rescue was called by Kelowna RCMP at 8 p.m.
COSAR sent 12 members plus a half dozen Kelowna Snowmobile Club volunteers showed up to comb the trails. This morning they were joined by eight more KSC members and seven COSAR members. Four Vernon SAR members were also en route. Because of the boy’s age, a Canadian Air Force Cormorant helicopter and a Buffalo STOL from 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron in Comox were dispatched at first light.
The Buffalo just made it to the search area before the boy was found. A snowmobile team from Vernon Search and Rescue riding in from the Lumby side spotted him around 10 a.m. He was evacuated by Wildcat Helicopters to waiting BC Ambulance Service paramedics. He has since been released.
In total 30 searchers took part in the rescue.
“Although he could’ve been better equipped, he had enough cold weather gear to last the night," said search manager Duane Tresnich.
Original story: Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) and Kelowna RCMP are searching for 16-year-old boy after he became separated from his group in Greystokes.
On February 17th, 2020 shortly after 6 pm, Kelowna RCMP were notified that three snowmobilers, a father and his two teenaged sons, were overdue from a trip into the Greystokes area.
Shortly after the call, the father and one of his sons returned to their vehicle and advised they had become separated from the 14-year-old.
Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) were engaged and called out to assist. Search and rescue crews began their ground search immediately and continued throughout the night.