Rescued group drank swamp water

Interesting story of a botched, follow the puppy that got loose.

A group of lakegoers who ended up lost in thick forest for 25 hours over the long weekend was found safe in the Kelowna area on Sunday afternoon, after a night drinking water from a swamp before scrambling uphill for cell service.

Central Okanagan Search and Rescue said three people and their dog were found after searchers, driving through the new-growth forest on ATVs, heard them "screaming" for help. Another wave of rescuers had missed them minutes earlier, unable to hear them shouting through the dense brush.

"They're pretty much covered in bug bites," said Tresnich. "And they did drink the water in the swamp as a survival thing. You need water. However, it may be affecting them over the next couple of days."

The area around Postill Lake is crowded with three-metre high trees and a mess of logs felled by wind — not a place to be lost without a plan, Tresnich said.

"It's a great obstacle course if you're in the army. A really good training ground," the search manager said.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/postill-lake-kelowna-rescue-1.5197011

It will be interesting to see if any illness is contracted by the group after drinking "swamp water"!!!

I firmly believe that it is better to drink from questionable sources so that you remain hydrated and can return to town, where medical care is available for the bugs you may contract. They are curable these days.

I have followed this strategy on several occasions and I have never suffered for it. Obviously, it is better if you can treat the water before drinking, but that isn't always possible.

I hope any followup news reports can be posted here. It will be interesting to see.

Agreed wholeheartedly hikermor! Let’s hope that they are unaffected by the water, and if not that it’s a short and easy recovery.

Again; Even the most basic backpacking kit should include:
1. water
2. purification
3. signaling devices
4. way finding gear
5. bug repellent.


Edited to add - And a sar pack should be larger and more extensive.

Also would be interesting to know if they have been given any precautionary medication for drinking the swamp water.

Presume they have had something for the bites.

Yikes. Sounds like they were utterly unprepared with even the basics.

This time of year we get tons of calls of tubers or kayakers getting stuck on the rivers with nothing but swim clothes, having no idea how long it takes to float down the river, they'll start a couple hours before dark. Luckily there is cell service, but there's no exit along the river for miles, the sides being extremely steep, muddy and with dense foliage. Some said they heard it was one big loop and they'd end up where they started...


A Platypus and some water purification tablets fits pretty nicely in a fanny pack!

It pays to be prepared! A flexible water bottle and some Aqua Tabs would have been a big help.

See the new threat "A day on the river"