Search team called out for 100th time this year

It was a milestone call-out that ended before it began.

Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) was called out for the 100th time this year on Tuesday morning, Dec. 14, asked to assist RCMP in locating a missing driver after a vehicle was found abandoned near Stillingfleet Park in downtown Kelowna.

“The search was of high urgency because of the subject’s health,” said spokesman Ed Henczel.

As the team readied for an urban search, the RCMP dog team scoped-out the area around the subject’s car, and just before COSAR teams were deployed, RCMP located the subject at Kelowna General Hospital and the volunteer searchers were stood down.

“Twenty-twenty-one has been COSAR’s busiest year since we were founded in 1954,” Henczel stated. “Last year’s record of 84 searches was 50 per cent above a typical year. Before COVID, we typically averaged between 50 and 60 call-outs.”

COSAR has been on seven body recoveries this year, assisted RDCO, NORD and RDOS [regional district] emergency crews with evacuation orders and alerts, and ran a nine-day search for a missing scuba diver in Okanagan Lake.

To deal with the increase in call volume, the search group recently concluded a recruiting drive and 15 prospects will begin training in January.

“COSAR would like to thank the Regional District of Central Okanagan for its support, as well as local sponsors such as the Kinsmen Kelowna, Sunbelt Rentals, Pace Sports, Barry Beecroft Fuel, Allans Hose n’ All, Kelowna Chevrolet, Vivid Lumen, Fortis, Mr. Lube, Mega Storage, James Tirecraft and Royal LePage, among others,” said president Brad Trites.