Snowboarder rescued after spending night at Cypress Mountain Resort
'I'm just really ashamed I got cocky on the mountain — that's one thing that you should never do'
North Shore Rescue volunteers have successfully completed a long line rescue of a missing snowboarder off the Howe Sound Crest Trail Tuesday morning.
Arslan Zhunus spent a cold night on a slope near Cypress Mountain Ski Resort before rescuers could reach him.
"They [North Shore Rescue volunteers] literally saved my life — I don't know where I'd be right now," said Zhunus.
"I'm just really ashamed I got cocky on the mountain — that's one thing that you should never do."
20 year old snowboarder who was lost out of bounds rescued this morning by North Shore Rescue. He was hypothermic when found. <a href="https://t.co/M6TvGQiFhg">pic.twitter.com/M6TvGQiFhg</a>
—@KamilKaramaliWhen he realized he had gone out of bounds, Zhunus was able to call for help using his cell phone.
Zhunus said it was snowing heavily as he waited for rescue overnight.
"So I built a shelter under the pine tree with branches....it was surprisingly warm," he said.
"Most important thing I want to say is never get cocky with the mountains or nature in general. You just can't control it."
Two snowshoers remain missing
Meanwhile, two snowshoers remain missing this morning, after a day of steadily worsening conditions on the local mountains. It's believed they've been missing since Dec. 25.
"You never want to give hope, but it's a very difficult survival circumstance," said a West Van police officer about 2 missing snowshoers. <a href="https://t.co/afXQatADOj">pic.twitter.com/afXQatADOj</a>
—@KamilKaramaliOver 20 volunteers from NSR and Lions Bay searched all day for Chun Sek Lam and Roy Tin Hou Lee, after Lee's abandoned vehicle was found in the parking lot at the Cypress Mountain Ski Resort on Sunday evening.
However, there's still no idea where the two might be.
With the avalanche risk increasing, Danks is worried.
"They left no trip plan whatsoever. We're not sure if they're on Hollyburn, Black or Strachan slopes," he said.
"It's very frightening because they are not well-equipped for these conditions at all. By now, we're looking at 36 hours they've been out. It's not a good situation."
Constable Jeff Palmer of the West Vancouver Police Department said a fourth person had also gone out of bounds Monday night.
This person was able to get back to safety before the search team was called in..
With files from Justin Mcelroy and Kamil Karamali