HONORA BAY—“Mission accomplished!” declared M’Chigeeng Fire Chief Andrew Corbiere following the rescue of a person in distress on the Cup and Saucer Trail last week.
Mr. Corbiere explained that Manitoulin EMS alongside M’Chigeeng Fire Department were called for a rescue at the top of the Cup and Saucer Trail just before noon on Wednesday, August 7, completing the task just after 4 pm.
“It was an adventure, indeed, as the EMS crew and fire department crew had to search for the patient, taking a little over two hours until reaching the male who needed assistance,” said Mr. Corbiere.
Thankfully there were no serious injuries.
“Initially we called in the OPP helicopter to basket the individual out, but they were not at the original location and they continued on the trail, so we had to catch up to them and called off the helicopter rescue due to being in the middle of the bluff, so it was decided to walk the individual down, which we safely completed,” said Mr. Corbiere. Who offered his congratulations to everyone involved.
“Good job to everyone involved and to OPP being on standby with the helicopter,” he said. “First Responders go above and beyond when it comes to lives, we completed the task effectively, just an idea of how much we go above and beyond, it was 15,000-plus steps on the counter, with our gear on (no jackets) in just over four hours. When lives are on the line, it’s down to the grind.”
Fire Chief Corbiere went on to suggest following the event that putting a numbering system on the trial and an emergency heli-pad in case of an emergency at the top, would go a long way if someone is in distress.
“They can say which number they’re closest to, or at, and if needing an evacuation for medical,” he said. “During our search we could only go by a red trail or blue trail, which made it difficult in locating the individual, but if a numbering system along with a map were to be implemented, it would make rescuing much more easier and quicker, as time is of the essence when dealing with lives.”
