(FORT FRANCES, ON) – On May 23, 2014, shortly after 8:30 am, officers of the Rainy River District Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were alerted to a distress call through a GPS Satellite Locator Rescue Coordinator Centre. Officers verified through the GPS coordinates that the owner of the locator, a Minnesota male, was calling for emergency assistance from his remote/lake only access cabin located in the north west arm of Rainy Lake, ON.
Officers attended the remote area by police vessel and located the male. The male had injured his leg and was unable to return to his vehicle without assistance. He did not have a cell phone or other neighbours in the area to assist him. Police provided the assistance and the male was able to return home. His injury did not require urgent emergency medical attention from police or ambulance personnel.
GPS Satellite Locator Systems are becoming a popular tool for remote travel. We would like to remind the public that if they are considering the option of GPS Satellite locator system