By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Hiker dies after collapsing on Mt. Benson

Sep 28, 2017 | 5:32 PM

NANAIMO — An elderly man died after collapsing on a Mt. Benson trail.

According to Nanaimo RCMP, the 69-year-old hiker collapsed while walking on the Witchcraft Lake Regional Trail with friends around 11 a.m. on Sept. 23. CPR was performed and passing hikers stopped to help, however RCMP said the man did not survive.

Police said a helicopter couldn’t be used in the steep and treed area. The BC Coroners Service is now leading the investigation.

About three hours later, Search and Rescue crews were again called out to Mt. Benson, this time for a hiker with a severe leg cramp who was unable to get down the mountain.

An off-road vehicle brought the man down.

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RCMP said 19 members from Nanaimo SAR were on the mountain on Sept. 23 between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.

NanaimoNewsNOW has reached out to Nanaimo RCMP and Nanaimo SAR for comment and will update the story with quotes and more information.

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