A man who was missing for nine days in the Cariboo wilderness did the right thing by building himself a shelter and staying put, said Bob Zimmerman, Quesnel Search and Rescue president and manager.
The area where Andrew Barber, 39, was found on Friday, Aug. 8, was full of trails, swamps and little lakes, according to Zimmerman.
香蕉视频直播淥nce he got to the lake, he stayed there. He built himself a shelter with moss and clothing. All he could do was drink the water, and I believe he may have chewed a bit of moss."
QSAR香蕉视频直播檚 involvement began with very few details to accurately pinpoint where Barber was eventually found, about 50 kilometres north of Williams Lake on the west side of the Fraser River.
香蕉视频直播淭he initial information we received did not have any coordinates - just a photograph with a pin on it, and a pretty fuzzy one at that,香蕉视频直播� Zimmerman said. 香蕉视频直播淚t put us in a very large area.香蕉视频直播�
Zimmerman noted that with not enough information, QSAR could not go in and conduct a ground search due to the 100 km of trails and networks.
Barber was reported missing to the Williams Lake RCMP on Thursday, July 31, and was last seen on July 28 in Riske Creek.
The first day QSAR got involved was on Tuesday, Aug. 5.
香蕉视频直播淲e had PEP Air from Prince George flying over with a private citizen plane and an observer,香蕉视频直播� Zimmerman said. "They located a Dodge truck, but it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 the right truck."
On Aug. 6, the weather was not adequate for flying, but on Aug. 7, QSAR went back in with Provincial Emergency Program Air (PEP Air) flying overhead, but again had no luck.
PEP Air is an associate member of Canada香蕉视频直播檚 Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA). It works closely with 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron of the Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in Comox and with BC Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR).
Then on Friday, Aug. 8, one of the QSAR volunteers went as an observer in an RCMP helicopter.
Zimmerman said they searched in a different area and went southbound where Barber香蕉视频直播檚 truck was, although at first they did not see it.
When they were flying northbound, the sun was at the right angle, and they caught a glint off the vehicle. While the truck was found, Barber was not; he had left his vehicle.
With it being quite a distance to drive from Quesnel, it was decided the RCMP would continue with the ground search.
香蕉视频直播淚n the process of making a second trip in with the helicopter, they lucked out and flew overtop of the subject who had 'HELP' written with mud on a rock," Zimmerman said. 香蕉视频直播淲e are not so sure how he would have made out for another 24 hours out there without water and without food.香蕉视频直播�
Zimmerman said QSAR greatly appreciates having assistance from PEP Air.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not the first time we香蕉视频直播檝e used them, and it香蕉视频直播檚 not the first time they香蕉视频直播檝e been successful for us. We also appreciate the support from the RCMP as well as our own volunteers. Our people spend 1,000s of hours training to be able to do things like this. It's worthwhile."
A retired RCMP officer, he moved to Quesnel in 1989 and spent 16 years in charge of traffic services before retiring.
"I love Quesnel," he added.
