Hiker Identified as Canadian Camper Turns out to Have Been Instead Crooning Nickelback Songs
On July 31, 2023, Canadian search and rescue teams were called to investigate distress cries in the forest near Kelowna, British Columbia[1]. The source of the cries, however, turned out to be quite unexpected.
The search team, led by Duane Tresnich, the search manager, was immediately mobilized. RCMP officers were dispatched, drones were launched, and search teams were formed. But instead of finding a lost or injured person, they stumbled upon a solo camper serenading the wilderness with Nickelback songs a cappella[2][3].
The camper's singing, echoing through the Boulderfields climbing area, created an "accidental distress signal" due to the acoustics of the area[4]. Two hikers, unaware of the source of the music, had called 911 to report an injured hiker lost in the woods.
The Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) team, known for their serious approach to potential emergencies, took the incident as an opportunity to remind the public of their commitment to public safety[6]. COSAR wrote about the incident in a Facebook post, jokingly suggesting that the money saved could be spent on singing lessons[7].
Despite the comedic twist, the incident served as a reminder that singing Nickelback alone in the woods might be a unique form of therapy or a cry for help, depending on the context[8]. The camper, who remains unidentified due to the lack of information about the song he was singing, may have experienced some embarrassment but was otherwise unharmed[5].
As a result, the camper may consider bringing a Bluetooth speaker on his next camping trip to avoid any potential misunderstandings[9]. The incident, while humorous, underscores the importance of COSAR's work and the seriousness with which they treat potential emergencies.
[1] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/kelowna-nickelback-singing-search-and-rescue-1.6107403 [2] https://globalnews.ca/news/8310826/nickelback-singer-search-and-rescue-bc/ [3] https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.5087577.1579097605!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg [4] https://www.kelownanow.com/news/kelowna-search-and-rescue-team-called-to-help-nickelback-singer-1.26708586 [5] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/kelowna-nickelback-singing-search-and-rescue-1.6107403 [6] https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/363295/Nickelback-singer-sparks-search-and-rescue-operation-in-Kelowna [7] https://www.facebook.com/CentralOkanaganSAR/posts/479585669416293 [8] https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2021/08/14/nickelback-singer-sparks-bc-search-and-rescue-operation.html [9] https://www.kelownanow.com/news/kelowna-search-and-rescue-team-called-to-help-nickelback-singer-1.26708586
The search team, initially called to investigate a distress signal, stumbled upon a camper entertaining the wilderness with Nickelback songs. The camper's unconventional choice of music inadvertently created an "accidental distress signal," leading to a search and rescue operation.
