Lost Soufriere hiker found alive as Lavaman, team rise to the challenge

A HIKER who got “lost” on the challenging La Soufriere Volcano trail was rescued hours after he had been separated from other hikers with whom he had climbed the summit on Tuesday, May 17.

Rescuers said that Sion Hill resident, Colin Browne was taken to the Georgetown Medical Complex for observation after he was brought out from the mountain early on Wednesday morning, May 18.

Browne was part of a group of hikers who began their hike up the 4048 feet volcano trail around 7:00a.m on Tuesday.

They had all reached the summit when sometime after, Browne decided to leave the group and make his way alone back downhill.

He was discovered missing from the group sometime around 3 in the afternoon that day.

It was reported that first responders decided to wait until Wednesday to search for the missing man because of the possible risk factors on the trail, especially at nightfall.

So, his relatives reached out to popular tour guide Desron ‘Lavaman’ Rodriquez for assistance.

Rodriquez, who came to prominence for his daring visits up the Soufriere’s summit just prior to the start of the eruptions last year, wasted no time in organizing a search party in a bid to locate and rescue the missing man.

In an interview with SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday evening, May 18, ‘Lavaman’ said he received a call from relatives of the missing man around 7’oclock on Tuesday night.

He wasted no time in contacting Ozari Williams, Paul Cyrus and others to be part of the search party.

‘Lavaman’ and Williams drove to Georgetown together, while Cyrus was in another vehicle.

Based on information they had received, ‘Lavaman’ said when they reached Georgetown, they “passed by the station to get a stretcher.”

They did not get a stretcher at the station, so they went to the Georgetown Medical Complex where they were able to get one.

They also alerted medical officials about their mission, before heading to Bamboo Range to begin their search and rescue operation.

The search party consisted of seven persons began their search and rescue trek at 10’oclock on Tuesday night Cyrus recalled that when they got to the summit of the volcano, Browne was nowhere in sight.

The team had to go through miles of “thick bushes” for hours calling his name before they eventually found him on a ridge; below that was a precipice.

Williams recalled that when the Sion Hill resident was found, he had some injuries which he reportedly sustained in a fall.

“He had some swelling to the left knee and his left eye was also swollen.”

Williams said Browne was able to walk with them to meet his family who were anxiously waiting at Bamboo Range.

After hours of searching in the dark and dangerous trail, Browne was found around 1.15 a.m. on Wednesday.

Cyrus recalled that Browne was “lost” on the volcano trail, as he had taken a wrong path on his way

back down.

Although he had been able to collect some water from a stream, Cyrus said Browne was “dehydrated and disoriented” when they found him.

The injured man had also gone for almost 24 hours without food.

“He could have passed out if he had stayed there all night,” stated Williams, who is a physical therapist.

The injured man, along with his rescuers reached Bamboo Range around 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday.

From there, his relatives took him to the Georgetown Medical Complex for examination.

Cyrus said when Browne decided to return to the base of the volcano, “he mistakenly took the wrong path down the hill.”

The Sion Hill hiker ended up about three to four miles off the volcano trail and became lost in the Morne Garu Mountain. They got back to Bamboo Range at 6:00a.m. on Wednesday.

The rescue party had had very little sleep when they spoke to SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday evening.

Cyrus said someone had received a “ping” from Browne’s phone and they were able to find his location using GPS trackers.

According to Cyrus, the rescue operation on Tuesday night was very difficult as there was low visibility and thick bush.

However, Cyrus said after hearing initial reports they “thought it was ridiculous to leave him up there for the night, when there was a possibility to find him.”

Members of the search party, though, risked their own lives just to be able to find Browne and have him reunited with his family.

Only God knows what might have happened if the injured man was not rescued on time.

Just ahead of the Easter weekend the National Parks, Rivers and Beaches Authority issued a public notice advising about the closure of some sites generally used as picnic spots by the population. The Soufriere trail was one of these sites.

“La Soufriere Trail and the volcano itself continue to pose significant danger and the risk of injury to hikers,” as, among other things, the terrain remains uneven and dangerous, the Authority had said then.

The public was advised “to desist from visiting these sites until further notice.”

The authorities have not yet lifted this advisory.