Lower Mainland team joins search for missing woman, 73
Helicopters, dogs on rescue teams
The search for a missing 73-yearold woman who has not been seen since setting out on a hike Sunday has involved every search-andrescue team on the Island so far, with some of their mainland counterparts also helping.
Bertha Hanson, described as slight but strong, is an avid outdoorsperson. The search for her is focused on the area where her blue 2014 Silverado was located Monday — about five kilometres west of the Nanaimo Airport, around Timberlands and Ninatti roads.
Hanson left her home about noon Sunday. A friend contacted Nanaimo RCMP on Monday morning when she discovered Hanson had not returned.
A total of 57 people from 10 Island groups took part in the search Wednesday, said Nanaimo RCMP Const. Gary O’Brien. He said some of them are getting tired.
“So they’re going to be augmented by search teams from the Lower Mainland,” he said. “They’re already making plans to keep the search going throughout the weekend.”
A helicopter, ground crews, dogs, quads and searchers on horseback have all been taking part in the huge effort to locate Hanson, O’Brien said.
“It’s just a fully engulfed search-and-rescue scene,” he said. “They’ve searched extensively the inner zone where her vehicle was found.
“They’re extending their search out into a secondary area.”
O’Brien said searchers are combing through wooded ground with a lot of salal and slash.
“There’s rolling hills, quick drops and changes in elevation, and many brooks running through it,” he said. “Lots of logging roads, as well.”
He said the searchers are “incredible people.”
“We can’t say enough,” O’Brien said.
“They put their lives on hold, they are all volunteers. They’re highly trained and just giving back to their community.”
Many of Hanson’s friends have been at the scene of the search, he said.
“She was really active in a hiking group and mushroom picking.”
It was originally thought that Hanson had been mushroom picking when she went missing, but now it is believed she was hiking, O’Brien said.