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Air One rescue (photo / VSAR)
Sledder broke his back

Injured snowmobiler rescued by Air One

Mar 1, 2021 | 11:40 AM

A snowmobiler with a broken back was rescued by the Vernon Search and Rescue (VSAR) helicopter winch team on Saturday (Feb. 27).

The man remains in Vernon Jubilee Hospital (VJH) following surgery.

“We were called out for a snowmobiler who had really hurt his lower back. He was right on the boundary between Vernon and Central Okanagan Search and Rescue areas,” VSAR spokesman Trevor Honigman said. “We sent our helicopter and had a ground team as plan ‘B.’ Fortunately the helicopter was able to get to the area quickly and land near where the man was.”

The injured sledder was flown to the Vernon Airport, and taken by ground ambulance to Vernon Jubilee Hospital, where he underwent surgery for cracked vertebrae.

“Thank you, to the crew who stopped and kept me warm for the three hour wait for the heli yesterday. Just got out of surgery. I have a few pins and screws in my back now but should make a full recovery in the next few months,” Dan Reeve posted on the Kelowna Snowmobile Club Facebook page.

Family friend, Kayla Shmyr, has set up a “Go Fund Me” account for the family while Reeve recovers for the next six months.

“This will be hard for Dan who is normally very active and has a physical job as a heavy duty mechanic. At this time, his wife, which is a stay at home mom of his two young children, are unable to see him due to Covid restrictions,” Shmyr said. “Dan will most likely be off work for some time to heal his back and all funds will be used to help them stay a float and pay bills, rent and any medical bills that may come up.”

Dan Reeve family (photo / Facebook)

As of 11:00 a.m. Monday nearly half of the $7,000 goal had been raised.

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