Helicopter rescues B.C. climber stung more than 100 times by wasps

A female climber was rescued by helicopter after being stung more than 100 times by wasps in the backcountry north of Vancouver.

Lions Bay Search and Rescue said the climber encountered the insects Tuesday on Redoubt Wall near Loggers Creek. A ground team brought medical supplies because of the risk of a serious systemic reaction, but rescuers determined she could not walk out.

North Shore Rescue was asked to conduct a helicopter extraction. Rescuers were placed at the site and helped airlift the climber through heavy tree cover before she was transferred to BC Emergency Health Services.

Redoubt Wall is about 40 kilometres north of Vancouver along the Sea to Sky Highway. Lions Bay Search and Rescue said encounters with wasps can quickly become a serious backcountry medical emergency when someone receives a large number of stings.