An 81-year-old woman in medical distress was rescued from a remote trapper's cabin in northern Manitoba on New Year's Eve thanks to Mounties on specially equipped snowmobiles.

According to the Manitoba RCMP, officers from The Pas RCMP were contacted at 5:20 p.m. and received a report of an 81-year-old female needing emergency medical assistance. The female was in a remote trappers cabin, only accessible by snowmobile, approximately 48 kilometres south of The Pas.

Officers assessed the situation, and with the assistance and knowledge from a local elder, it was determined that a helicopter extraction would not be possible.

A rescue team consisting of two RCMP officers, two local paramedics, and a local area guide was formed. The team utilized two RCMP snowmobiles and two transport pods (known as “snowbulances” designed for medical equipment and patient transportation on snow).

The female patient was safely located and transported to the hospital in stable condition.

“This was a unique and challenging situation due to the remoteness of the area,” said A/Sgt. Colin Stark of The Pas RCMP. “The success of this rescue was directly related to good planning, excellent teamwork, and our partnerships with local knowledge experts.”