Arrowsmith SAR manager Ken Neden shares his experience during a stunning rescue caught on camera at Little Qualicum Falls on Dec 12, 2020 (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

LIGHTS CAMERA ACTION

Life-saving rescue at Little Qualicum Falls to be featured in UK television series

May 13, 2021 | 5:25 AM

COOMBS — Arrowsmith Search and Rescue members were under the spotlight as a major British TV production crew profiled a heroic rescue.

Interviews were conducted Wednesday, May 12 for a program produced by MultiStory Media tittled “Unbelievable Moments Caught on Camera.”

Three Arrowsmith SAR members recounted their experience responding to the rescue of a man who was clinging to a log in a torrential pool of Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park on Dec. 12, 2020.

“It’s a happy one for us, it’s a success story,” Arrowsmith SAR vice president Nick Rivers said. “As a team we were able to pull something pretty incredible off…I think it’s an incredible moment in time and it’s great to share it with people.”

Rivers was hoisted down more than 80 feet into the frigid, swift moving water where he reached out to save a distressed man from getting swept over a waterfall.

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He eventually secured the man and they were pulled to safety with help from fellow Arrowsmith SAR members and dozens of other emergency responders.

Rivers, 29, was the only person on scene qualified for both rope and water rescue scenarios, which he continually hones through ongoing training.

The widely publicized rescue highlighted several key technical challenges SAR volunteers may be faced with, including difficult terrain, fast moving water and rope systems.

“The training that adds all of those elements together is very time intensive and experience is required. It’s not the kind of environment you want to get into for your first time in the water.”

Rivers said media attention from both large and small outlets helps share how valuable SAR volunteers are for the communities they serve.

“It shows everybody what search and rescue does, what the volunteer unpaid professional model is able to do…It’s a pretty incredible thing to be a part of.”

Arrowsmith SAR member and trained rope team member Dee Collins shared her experience with the Manchester, England based television crew.

“Those emotions come back now especially watching the video again and knowing the danger that we put Nick down into, but it’s also a sense of relief and pride,” Collins said.

Collins was responsible for one of two rope systems used to attach to Rivers and hoist both men to safety.

The organization responds to roughly 50 calls for a help a year involving backcountry and urban searches and recoveries of distressed people.

The interview was conducted with a freelance videographer from Vancouver while the interviewer asked questions via video chat from England.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes