Hikers rescued by Brentwood SAR team after Boxing Day hike runs late
Published 9:00 am Monday, December 29, 2025
A group of hikers needing a lift from the shoreline after the sun set on their outing at Gowland Tod Provincial Park on Boxing Day got a ride from volunteers with the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Station 31 out of Brentwood Bay.
The team was tasked out by the province to aid four hikers after they made making their way down to shoreline rocks just south of Elbow Point.
“They were also able to signal with a red flashing light that made locating them straightforward from the vessel. A shore extraction was executed and all four were bundled up in blankets, chocolate (thanks RockCoast Chocolates) and transported back to Brentwood Bay,” the search team said in a news release.
A SAR volunteer gave the group a ride back to their vehicle in Highlands and the crew got back to their families just in time for Boxing Day dinner.
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RELATED: Locals make up 95% of search and rescue calls in B.C.
The No. 1 reason for search and rescue callouts in B.C. are injuries, and BC Search and Rescue Association data shows most search and rescue calls involve local residents. While familiar trails and parks can seem safe, search teams are most often called out for injuries, followed by lost or disoriented individuals, and those misjudging their skills or the terrain.
The callout serves as a reminder that even common activities on familiar terrain can quickly turn serious without proper preparation. Take along the 10 essentials: flashlight, fire-making kit, signalling device such as whistle, extra food and water, extra clothing, navigation aids, first aid kit, emergency shelter, tools such as a pocket knife and sun protection.
BC SAR data shows between 2022 and 2024, 95 per cent of search and rescue cases in B.C. involved people enjoying the outdoors close to home. Those aged 20 to 29 make up about 30 per cent of search subjects. Many are residents exploring nearby trails, locals visiting in their region, and others exploring just outside their home area.
BC Search and Rescue Association represents the 3,200 volunteers in B.C. who make up 78 teams across the province and respond to about 1,960 incidents each year. Teams across the province regularly promote safety by sending people to check out the myriad tips online at adventuresmart.ca.
It offers checklists, a trip planning app and safety webinars.
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