Kamloops Search and Rescue (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

KSAR 2025 Wrap

KSAR reports increase to water rescues, concern over social media influenced calls

Jan 14, 2026 | 4:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops Search and Rescue (KSAR) responded to their first call of 2026 in Monday to help a driver who was reportedly stuck in snow on Martin Prairie Road near Pritchard.

This first call of the year, follows 59 total callouts in 2025, which was a busy year for KSAR volunteers, but not a record breaker, falling short of the mark set the year prior.

“We had 59 callouts, 92 per cent of them where RCMP related and the rest were BC Ambulance,” said KSAR President Paula Davies. “So our record was in 2024, so not quite that 79 callouts we had in that year, but average.”

Water rescues notably increased according to Davies, as more and more people appear to be flocking to the water in the hot summer months.

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Of note last year, KSAR was called to search for Thompson Rivers University student Jatin Garg, who was swept away from the beach at Overlanders Park on July 6. Garg’s body was pulled from the river on July 15.

KSAR has also helped search for Braden Wallace-Peters, who is presumed to have drowned after he jumped off the Overlanders Bridge on July 30. They were also called to assist after a TRU international student drowned in Tobiano on Aug. 23.

“These people might not recognize the dangers of swift water, so the North Thompson and the South Thompson. And there may be some people who don’t even have the skills to swim, so we are seeing a lot more of that trend,” said Davies. “We are seeing more either accidental or intended SOS satellite messaging device activations.”

Davies says KSAR is also worried about a rising trend of social media related rescues, as people venture into areas without proper preparation. Two overheated hikers had to be rescued from the Tranquille Slot Canyons last year, one in July and one in September.

“We’ve seen people that are maybe enticed to go places they shouldn’t be going,” Davies added. “Whether it’s from a social media post and they maybe don’t know their own personal limits but they want to go there because it looks really cool. So we expect to see more of those and those may be more complex types of rescues.”

There are plans for another recruitment drive in the spring, but KSAR is currently staffed by 50 members.

Davies says Kamloops Search and Rescue is still also working to secure a new permanent home and they hope to have further clarity on that project in the near future.