Elk Valley RCMP and Fernie SAR have safely located an elderly Montana man and returned him home.
S/Sgt. Sven Nielsen said in a press release that police received a call mid-afternoon on July 11, 2023, from the BC Wildfire Service, reporting that one of their crew said there was an elderly man walking on the Wigwam Forest Service Road near Grasmere. It was reported that the man seemed disoriented and was perhaps lost.
BC Wildfire also said the two cyclists in the area had found the man walking with a bucket and he had informed them that he was in the United States. The cyclists had given him food and water and left him to find help.
Elk Valley RCMP confirmed that there were no missing elderly men in the Elk Valley, and then reached out to police in Eureka, Montana. There was in fact an 87 year old White Fish, Montana man missing since Sunday. The man had apparently been out berry and mushroom picking.
Fernie Search and Rescue were activated, and after a short helicopter patrol the elderly man was spotted.
Nielsen report the man was extremely thankful to be rescued as he feared he was being tracked by a grizzly bear, although Nielsen added this was not confirmed.
After a medical review by SAR and some oxygen to stabilize him, the man was taken the Roosville border crossing by helicopter, where was met by an ambulance, US Border Patrol and the local Sheriff department. He was taken to a local hospital.
Elk Valley RCMP thank the Fernie SAR volunteers for their quick response.
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