Rocky Mountain House Search and Rescue members, alongside other first responders, wheel a hiker out on a stretcher from a trail in the Nordegg area on June 25, 2022. (Rocky Mountain House Search and Rescue)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

to the rescue

Rocky SAR and other first responders rescue hiker from Nordegg-area trail

Jun 30, 2022 | 4:35 PM

A hiker had to be rescued on a trail southwest of Nordegg on Saturday, June 25 after experiencing a medical issue.

RCMP share with rdnewsNOW that a call came in just before 1 p.m. about a hiker looking for assistance in the Two O’ Clock Creek campground area.

The 48-year-old man is said to have fallen, causing injuries to his head. As well, he had several abrasions, according to an RCMP spokesperson.

Emergency responders were notified that he was about one to two kilometres up the trail.

Rocky Mountain House Search and Rescue (SAR) arrived, removed the man via stretcher down the mountain, and he was taken by STARS Air Ambulance to Foothills Medical Centre in non-life-threatening condition.

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Clearwater County Fire Rescue, Rocky SAR, as well as Nordegg and Banff EMS, all assisted with the call.

“I fell off the cliff there, about 30 feet,” says Robin Kerslake, an Edmonton resident.

Kerslake says he somehow broke no bones, but is bruised all over, and has been diagnosed with a concussion.

“I’m in a lot of pain, but I wouldn’t be here at all without the first responders. There’s no question they saved my life. I consider myself extremely lucky,” he says.

“People falling even a small portion of what I did could break all kinds of bones, or die from complications.”

Thankfully, Rocky SAR and other first responders were quick to act.

“When you go out, it’s best to have some form of communication, but also to understand where you are situated. Where we were on this call, there was no cell service for 45 minutes,” says Eric Brownrigg, president, Rocky SAR.

“A satellite communications device works best. Also, be in a group when you go out. Two is good, but three is even better because someone can stay with the injured person, and the other can go seek help. In this case, the man had a friend with him, but that person had to leave him to find help.”

Brownrigg says all things considered, this call went about as smoothly as it could have.

He shares that the call for help actually came from a payphone — the only one around for many kilometres — at the Two O’ Clock Creek campground.

“The big thing to remember is that we are volunteers. We take this time away from our family and friends to go do these rescues. All the gear I have, I bought myself,” says Brownrigg about the 45 member team’s commitment.

“Regardless, we’re there no matter what. Plus, we’re a free service. Accidents happen, and we don’t care what it is, we’ll be there.”

In 2022, Rocky SAR has responded to just eight calls, down sharply from 46 all of last year and 49 in 2020.