Drone‑Assisted Rescue Saves Stranded Climber in Squamish A squad of volunteers used drones to locate and rescue a climber stuck on a remote cliff in Squamish, B.C., marking the first of its kind in the province and setting a precedent for future emergency responses. Rescue crews in Squamish, British Columbia, employed a fleet of drones to locate and assist a climber who had become stranded on a steep cliff face. The operation, conducted by the Squamish Search and Rescue team, marked the first time that unmanned aerial vehicles were used in such a manner for a provincial search and rescue mission in Canada. The climber, who was holding onto a precarious ledge in a remote area, was unable to descend safely on his own. Local officials quickly called for help and the small but highly trained volunteer unit responded within minutes of being notified.On arrival, the team used drones equipped with high‑resolution cameras and infrared sensors to survey the slope and identify the exact position of the climber. The aerial footage was shared in real time with ground responders, allowing them to plan a route that avoided the most dangerous sections of the cliff and to get a clear view of the climber's positioning and exposure to the elements.With a carefully timed sequence, a rescue rope was lowered from a helicopter, and a specialist climber was brought to the edge to attach bail lines. Using off‑the‑shelf packaging, a portable winch was set up and the victim was winched to a safe ledge. The entire operation took less than an hour from the moment the distress signal was received, and the climber was able to recover without injury.The Squamish Search and Rescue team's use of drones is being seen as a model for other communities grappling with remote or difficult terrains. The local government is now evaluating how drones can improve response times for other types of emergencies, such as flooding or wildfires, as part of next‑generation emergency response protocols.In addition to the rescue, the use of unmanned aircraft has highlighted the importance of cross‑disciplinary training for volunteers who must be proficient in both technical gear and navigation. The incident has sparked widespread support on social media, with local residents and climbing enthusiasts praising the team's quick thinking and technology‑savvy approach. Officials say this milestone will push other Canadian provinces to explore similar use cases, potentially enhancing lives in avalanche‑prone and alpine regions across the continent