Missing Hiker Found Alive in Steep Terrain in Vancouver Island’s Strathcona Park
Subhadarshi Tripathy
8/7/20261 min read
A hiker who had been missing in Vancouver Island’s Strathcona Park since Monday has been found alive following a multi-day search involving several search-and-rescue teams.
Comox Valley Search and Rescue said 25-year-old Keshav Jindal was located in steep terrain above Moat Lake and extracted from the area.
Search and rescue commander Paul Berry said Jindal had originally set out with another hiker from the parking lot at Ravens Lodge early Monday morning with plans to summit Mount Albert Edward.
“The two hikers involved had set off ... from the parking lot at Ravens Lodge early that morning to summit Mount Albert Edward,” Berry said.
Hikers Split Up During Trip
At some point during the hike, the two separated, with Jindal continuing on his own, according to Berry.
His hiking partner later reported him missing, triggering an extensive search of the surrounding area.
Search teams focused their efforts on terrain they believed Jindal was most likely to have entered.
“We found him on a set of cliff bands ... above Moat Lake, which was the area we had determined as our highest probability area,” Berry said.
The terrain where Jindal was located was steep and presented challenges for crews working to reach and remove him safely.
Hiker Airlifted to Hospital
Berry confirmed Jindal was alive when rescuers reached him, although his exact condition was not immediately clear.
He was extracted from the area and transported to hospital by air ambulance Thursday afternoon.
Seven search-and-rescue teams participated in the operation.
Berry said rescuers remained optimistic throughout the search, particularly because weather conditions in the area had been favourable during the week.
Popular Trail Includes Difficult Terrain
The route around Mount Albert Edward is well travelled at this time of year, according to Berry, but portions of the area include difficult and potentially hazardous terrain.
Search crews had continued working through the region based on their assessment of where Jindal was most likely to be found.
His discovery brought the multi-day search to an end, with Jindal safely removed from the backcountry and taken to hospital for assessment and treatment.
News
Stay updated with the latest BC news stories, subscribe to our newsletter today.
SUBSCRIBE
© 2026 Innovatory Labs Inc. All rights reserved.
LINKS