Lost trail runner rescued after finding cell service in remote area, North Shore Rescue says

A crew from North Shore Rescue lifts a lost trail runner into a helicopter in this still from a video shared on Facebook. (Facebook.com/NorthShoreRescue)

Rescuers say a lost trail runner was “very lucky” to get cellphone service in a remote area on the North Shore Monday afternoon, and could’ve ended up in a lot more trouble if he hadn’t.

North Shore Rescue was called to the Hanes Valley area by the RCMP, who had received the lost man’s distress call.

Crews attempted to reach the man’s phone directly, but their calls went straight to voicemail and their texts went undelivered because, by that point, his battery had died, NSR said in a social media post Tuesday.

A helicopter crew responded to the co-ordinates shared by the RCMP and was able to locate the trail runner from the air, despite him blending into the boulder field where he was awaiting rescue.

John Blown, NSR’s air operations co-ordinator, told CTV News the runner had fallen multiple times and had some minor injuries. He was also starting to become hypothermic, having travelled light with just a T-shirt and shorts.

The man told NSR he knew he was off the trail and lost, and that he had searched the valley looking for cellphone service, according to Blown.

“The hiker was very lucky that he was able to get a call out,” Blown said. “That area has notoriously bad cell service.”

Though he was unprepared to spend a night in the backcountry, the runner had told his wife where he was going, and he helped rescuers by staying in one place and waving his shirt over his head to get the attention of the helicopter crew.

“He made the right call in calling for help and then waiting at that location,” Blown said. “He definitely did a number of things right to assist.”

As for things the lost man could have done better, Blown said trail runners should avoid running solo and should bring the "10 essentials" with them into the backcountry.

Monday’s rescue was the fourth of the B.C. Day long weekend for North Shore Rescue, and neighbouring crews were also kept busy over the three days, according to NSR.