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RESCUE VIDEO: A B.C. first, drone spots lost skiers

Rescuers used drones to find the last four people because none was believed to be carrying a cell phone.
43770BCLN2007SunPeaksResortWikimediaCommons

All seven people reported missing Monday at a ski resort near Kamloops have been found safe.

Alan Hobler with Kamloops Search and Rescue says three people were found late Monday in fair condition, but the search at the Sun Peaks Resort continued overnight for the other four.

The remaining members of the group that included five skiers and two snowboarders were located at various times after midnight, Hobler says, with the last two spotted and brought to safety about 3 a.m.

There was concern because the seven had entered a hazardous gully where Hobler says they could have ended up in a creek or stranded by the steep terrain.

He says the 18-member search crew was assisted by mild conditions that included a low avalanche hazard temperature of around -1 C.

Rescuers also used infrared-equipped drones to lead them to the last four people because none was believed to be carrying cellphones or other electronics. (CFJC)