Saving lives was already a multi-generational affair for the Danks Family. North Shore Rescue’s team leader Mike Danks’ father Allan was also once the head of the volunteer rescue organization. Now Mike’s three daughters, all under the age of 10, can claim their first successful rescue.
Danks and his daughters Millie, Sadie and Alex – along with their friends Camille and Lily Bouvier – were just about to head out for a hike of their own Wednesday afternoon when the North Shore Rescue team received word of a lost hiker from the RCMP.
“We had had a plan in mind. (The kids) were really good about bringing a pack and they had all their snacks and food and extra clothing and just as we were going to go on this hike, the call came in,” said Danks.
A Vancouver woman in her 20s had been climbing the BCMC trail with her mom when the two became separated and the daughter found herself off trail in a “precarious” situation, according to Danks.
“It was very steep and she was in a creek. Rather than do what most people do and push on, she said ‘You know what? I don’t feel comfortable’ and she called for help,” he said.
North Shore Rescue mobilized a team but Danks was the closest – just about 25 minutes away on foot. A bit dejected, the girls thought that meant the end of their hike, but Danks saw it as an opportunity.
“I said, ‘You know what girls? We’re going to go on this one together. You guys are going to be part of this rescue and oh my God, they were just over the moon about it,” he said. “They were so excited to be able to help somebody and be a part of what their dad did.”
They followed the old BCMC trail and Danks showed the girls on his GPS where they believed the subject was. As they got close, the girls began calling out the lost hiker’s name and it was Alex and Lily who were the first to find her. Having two nine-year-old rescuers be the first on the scene wasn’t exactly what she had in mind, Danks said.
While there have been several father-son teams on North Shore Rescue, including former team leader Tim Jones and his son Curtis, and founding member Karl Winter and his son Greg, it is the first third-generation rescue mission for the team, Danks said.
With the lost woman safely on her way, Danks and the girls continued their hike to the top of Grouse Mountain.
The amateur rescuers were confused as to why someone would need help when she was so close to the trail, so Danks used the experience as a lesson in trail safety.
“I let those guys lead and I can’t tell you how many times they got off trail. It just served as such a good example… The best thing to do is to stay put and call for help,” he said.
“They made it to the top, no complaining and I got them a big meal just to celebrate their first rescue.”
