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Vernon winch rescue helicopter used to rescue snowmobilers in Shuswap

Vernon SAR file photo

Two snowmobilers are doing fine after being rescued by Vernon SAR’s winch rescue helicopter Saturday morning.

The pair was retrieved from a gully in the Crowfoot area, west of Celista, a popular snowmobiling, area according to Leigh Pearson with Vernon Search and Rescue.

Pearson says the two men were reported overdue early Friday morning, and Shuswap Search and Rescue was called out.  

They located the men after dark, but could not get them out of the canyon.

The winch rescue helicopter went out at first light, and extricated the snowmobilers from the gully.

“It’s a common occurrence,” says Pearson.  “Snowmobilers get drawn into canyons and can’t get out again.”

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The men were gone for two days in total. Pearson says they were cold and exhausted, but not seriously injured.

He adds that the rescue happened at just the right time, because shortly after, fog grounded the helicopter in Salmon Arm.

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