A University of Victoria professor and his son were rescued in Cape Scott Provincial Park over the May long weekend after becoming stranded on a remote beach with no way out. The remote provincial park is located on the northwestern tip of Vancouver Island.
Michael R. King, a finance professor at UVic’s Gustavson School of Business, shared the story on LinkedIn, thanking Campbell River Search and Rescue for bringing him and his son Robert to safety.
“We are deeply grateful to Mike, Tim, Simone, Jaime, and BC Emergency Services for their expertise, generosity, and commitment to keeping people safe in the backcountry,” King wrote in the May 20 post.
The pair had originally planned a full overnight hike, but rainy weather made them change plans at the last minute. Instead, they set out for a short day hike up Mount St. Patrick. The problem: they didn’t know the route well, didn’t bring a proper map, and underestimated the terrain.
They left San Josef Bay at 1 p.m. on May 17. After reaching the summit around 4 p.m., they started their descent — but unknowingly took the wrong trail, ending up on the other side of the mountain near Sea Otter Cove. By sunset, the tide was rising and they were stuck on a beach with no safe way back.
At 7:40 p.m., King used his iPhone 15’s Emergency SOS via satellite feature to contact BC Emergency Services. Rescuers told them to stay put overnight. They had a tarp for shelter and some supplies, so they waited.
“Thanks to the iPhone SOS feature, a coordinated emergency response, and the selfless efforts of SAR volunteers, we were found and brought to safety,” King wrote.
The next morning, Campbell River Search and Rescue flew in by helicopter and spotted the bright blue tarp the hikers had used as shelter. They were brought out safely.
In a reflection on what went wrong, King admitted they made several mistakes: failing to bring a map, not researching the trail, not turning back when things got tough, and not leaving a trip plan with a friend or on the car dashboard.
He said spending a cold, wet night under a tarp in 6°C weather was a humbling experience. “It gave us a tiny glimpse into the hardship many unhoused people endure,” he wrote.
King said he shared the story so others could avoid similar mistakes, and to highlight the crucial role of SAR volunteers in keeping hikers safe in B.C.’s rugged backcountry.
Apple’s Emergency SOS via Satellite feature is available on an iPhone 14 or newer and is included free for the first two years after you activate your iPhone. It’s a safety tool that lets you text emergency services even when you’re far from cell towers. It connects directly to satellites overhead, which means you can still call for help if you’re lost or hurt in the middle of nowhere.
Again, this satellite feature from Apple is helping save and rescue lives. Earlier this week, we heard of the same feature being used on Vancouver Island in B.C. to save an injured hiker. It’s clear this is becoming a life-saving tool for many iPhone owners venturing out into the wild.
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Always good to hear stories like this, glad they were rescued. It's so easy to underestimate terrain, even if you're an experienced hiker or familiar with the area, one wrong turn can spell out all sorts of unexpected.
In other news, an iPhone was used to call Pizza Hut instead of using Uber Eats.