By Spencer Sterritt

Staying calm and being prepared helps four men in forest rescue south of Nanaimo

May 2, 2017 | 1:25 PM

NANAIMO — A swift Nanaimo Search and Rescue operation safely brought four men home Tuesday morning.

According to Nanaimo RCMP Cst. Gary O’Brien, the men were stranded Monday night in the wilderness southwest of Nanaimo Lakes Rd. after their car broke down after a night on their ATV’s.

He said their actions out in the woods are a textbook example of what to do when something goes wrong.

“These people knew the area and they knew if something went sideways they had to have extra food, clothing and safety supplies,” O’Brien said. “They stayed put, SAR came to them and it has a successful conclusion.”

Given the vast forests and unexplored terrain on Vancouver Island, O’Brien said people getting lost while exploring isn’t uncommon.

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“They’re pushing the boundaries, they’re going further and further and the idea is you don’t want to run into people because this is your unique adventure. But at the same time, you have to plan accordingly and things can go sideways very quickly, as these people found out.”

When exploring, whether it’s a multi-day trek or just a short adventure, O’Brien said it’s best to prepare for the worst and have extra of every supply, including food, clothing, gear and electronics.

spencer.sterritt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit