A Nanaimo senior was located safe after getting lost on a hiking trail, thanks in part to a police service dog.
While out hiking on a trail near Vipond Road, a 75-year-old man became disoriented and, given the wet and cold weather, decided to call the police for assistance around 7:45 p.m. on Jan. 28, according to an RCMP media release.
Around 8:35 p.m., Const. Hough and canine partner Luthor arrived to assist officers, who had narrowed down a search area using the GPS in the hiker’s cell phone.
Hough and Luthor travelled on foot down a logging road and entered the trail system. After a steep climb, Cst Hough directed his canine partner to start tracking. Luthor tracked a few trails and then veered into the bush, where he found the hiker 200 m away from the trail.
The man was uninjured and police escorted him to the waiting vehicles.
“We applaud the gentleman for calling the police,” said Const. Sherri Wade. “Sometimes, it’s hard to admit that we are lost. And as a police officer, I am always pleased when a PDS officer and their canine partner arrive on the scene. They are highly skilled teams and extremely effective.”
