ASHFIELD-COLBORNE-WAWANOSH – A senior from South Bruce is no doubt feeling exhausted and quite fortunate after he was rescued early this morning by police out of the Saratoga Swamp.
Police say they received a 911 call just before 11 p.m. on April 26 from a male voice.
“All that was communicated was the word ‘LOST’,” said Huron County OPP in a media release.
Call takers immediately tried calling back the number, however no voice contact was established. An emergency release of the phone subscriber information was provided to police and officers were able to obtain a possible location of where the call originated from.
Police say officers immediately began searching for the man. Shortly after 12:30 a.m., officers located the caller’s vehicle unoccupied at the entrance to the Saratoga Swamp off of Hawkins Road.
Members of the West Region OPP Emergency Response Team (ERT) and the Canine Unit attended to assist in the search. According to police, voice contact was made with the lost man shortly after 3 a.m.
“However, due to the difficult swampy terrain it wasn’t until after 4:30 a.m. before the man was located by police sitting on a log, well-under dressed and under-prepared for a long night in the bush,” said police.
The man, described by police as a 70-year-old man with mobility issues, came out of the swamp with ERT members around 6:15 a.m.
Police say the man “came out of the swamp very cold, wet and sore but fortunate to be alive.”
According to police, the man had ventured into the trails around noon looking for deer antlers and later in the day he became “turned around,” got off the trail and could not find his way out of the swamp.
“Fortunately, this incident had a successful and happy ending, however these situations don’t always turn out this way,” said police.
Huron County OPP offer the following recommendations for anyone that likes to go into the bush or venture out on the trails:
- Before you head out on a hike, plan your route. Carry maps, a GPS system and prepare for the terrain and weather conditions.
- Share your plans with a family member or friend and have them call for assistance if you are not back by a pre-determined time.
- Ensure you are dressed appropriately for the weather. It may be warm when you start out on the trails but the temperature and weather conditions can change quickly. Wear layers and proper footwear. If you have parked a vehicle nearby, leave a note on the dash with the above information.
- Carry a fully charged cell phone and list of emergency contacts in case you find yourself lost and needing help.
- Bring all necessary supplies and/or your medication in case any issues arise. Some items to pack are: food, water, sunscreen, first aid kit, flashlight and a lighter.
The OPP also encourages individuals to download and install the what3words app. If a caller already has the app downloaded on their mobile device, it works without internet or data, so you can provide emergency responders your unique location code even in remote areas or locations with cellular signals too weak for cellular data to work.
“Just like in this incident emergencies can happen anywhere, at any time. With this tool, the OPP’s communication centres will be able to help officers locate callers who are unaware of their exact locations, including in wooded areas and on waterways,” said police.
The what3words app is free for users to download and the OPP is encouraging Ontarians to do so in case of emergency.
For more information, visit what3words.com.
