Two people had to be rescued by helicopter Saturday from the Diez Vista Trail near Buntzen Lake after suffering allergic reactions to wasp stings.
Michael Coyle, the search manager with Coquitlam Search and Rescue, said the team was initially called out for a woman whose reaction was so severe she broke into hives and swelling, and was having difficulty breathing.
“She had symptoms of a major systemic reaction,” he said.
The first searchers on the scene were able to give her some Benadryl, which helps alleviate some of the issues caused by wasp stings. A long-line rescue was used to pull her and her mother out of the area to a nearby field, where BC Ambulance paramedics were waiting.
The helicopter was sent back to the trail again when a second member of their six-person hiking team was also stung and showing signs of an allergic reaction.
While Coquitlam SAR emphasizes preparedness in the back country, Coyle said Sunday’s incident highlights how difficult it can be for hikers to be ready for every situation.
“It is very hard to prepare,” he said. “Anybody can have an allergic reaction at any time even if they have been stung before.”
Those with a history of allergic reactions from stings should always have an EpiPen when hiking in the backcountry.
@gmckennaTC
