Photo: COSAR

COSAR volunteers assist a cyclist on the KVR trail Thursday.

Local search and rescue volunteers are fast approaching calling 2021 their busiest year yet, after responding to their 80th rescue of the year on the KVR Trestle Bridges Thursday afternoon.

A woman was cycling on Trestle #8 in Myra Bellevue Park when she slipped on the wooden bridge and fell onto her shoulder. Central Okanagan Search and Rescue volunteers responded on e-bikes.

“She was walking towards the Myra trailhead parking lot holding her broken arm when she was met by our e-bike team," said COSAR president Brad Trites.

The volunteers helped stabilize the woman's injury, while other volunteers brought in two paramedics to the scene on COSAR's UTV, before she was taken to the trailhead. From there, an ambulance transported the injured cyclist to Kelowna General Hospital.

With 84 incidents, last year was COSAR's busiest year in it 64-year history. But with more than three months to go, 2021 is on track to be even busier.