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A search and rescue (SAR) team from 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron from 8 Wing Trenton, Ont., evacuated three patients from an isolated community on Christian Island, in Georgian Bay, approximately 15 miles [24 kilometres] northwest of Midland Island, Ont., on Jan. 29.
ORNGE Air Ambulance requested the support of Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Trenton to medevac the patients. At the time, the ice road was deemed unsafe and the ferry was running into thick ice.
A CH-146 Griffon SAR helicopter was launched from 8 Wing and successfully transported the patients to Georgian Bay General Hospital in Midland.
Due to poor weather and visibility, “it was a challenging flight but we did our best to get there as fast as we could to medevac the patients,” said Captain Sean Crites, acting aircraft commander. “We’re glad they’re safe.”
424 Squadron and 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron from 17 Wing Winnipeg, Man., are responsible for 10,000,000 square kilometres of the Trenton Search and Rescue Region, comprising most of the Province of Quebec, all of Ontario, the Prairie Provinces and the entire Arctic.
SAR incidents under the federal SAR mandate are defined as “all aircraft incidents and all marine incidents in waters under federal jurisdiction.” With the exception of federally owned National Parks, the overall responsibility for ground search and rescue rests with the provinces, territories and municipalities. The Canadian Armed Forces may, however, provide assistance to land and inland water rescues when requested to do so.
