Mike Kierstead and his sister Sue Leon were adventuring out to portage along the Lady Evelyn River North Channel in Temagami. Kierstead is an avid outdoorsman with over 55 years total of portaging experience and 35 years of leading portaging trips. This year he wanted to make what would be his last trip to the challenging stretch known as the Golden Staircase. As a frequent visitor to the area and no prior incidents on any of his last trips, Kierstead and Leon set off, unaware that this adventure was not like the others.
 
The pair had already completed four of the six portages when at around 11:30 a.m. on July 2, Kierstead slipped, fell and hit his head on a rocky bank, splitting open his forehead. Unsure of whether he had lost consciousness, Kierstead was able to get up and walk back to his sister who immediately began to administer first aid. Leon was concerned about the level of injury her brother sustained and decided to call for help using her SPOTX receiver to send out an SOS. The pair received a response saying help was on the way.
 
Leon’s SOS was first received by the OPP which was then forwarded to the local Sudbury Central Ambulance Communication Centre. Due to no road access for the local ambulance department to reach them, an Ornge transport was requested.
 
“We thought it was the park wardens or something,” said Kierstead. Unbeknownst to them, Ornge would be answering their call.
 
The pair decided that they would attempt to slowly canoe to a campsite on Katherine Lake, two portages away, believing it was their best chance to find the park wardens. Before they could reach the camp, less than three hours after Leon’s initial SOS, the iconic chop of a helicopter’s propellers sounded overhead as the pair looked up to see an Ornge helicopter above.
 
“The pilots straight out of a movie landed in a swamp behind the portage and two saviours, Carla and John, humped through the brush then the bush to the portage where I waited in awe of what was occurring,” said Kierstead.
 
There on the bank, paramedics assessed Kierstead to determine whether he had suffered a concussion or stroke.
 
“Carla and John were just amazing and so helpful,” said Kierstead. “I am amazed at how I was found in such a dense, rocky isolated area and how this bird was landed.”
 
In a collaborative decision between Kierstead, Leon and the paramedics, the pair chose to continue to portage to Katherine Lake and then fly out through a private charter with all their gear.
 
“They told us that my biggest risk was infection and that I’d need stitches, so if it started oozing or I got a fever I could call them again for help,” said Kierstead. “They were absolutely wonderful. They provided the care, they gave me options, they were just professional in every way.”
 
Once at Katherine Lake, Leon was able to contact her husband to arrange for transport through Lakeland Airways. At 8:00 a.m. the next morning the pair made it back to their vehicle and Kierstead then made his way to a hospital in North Bay to have his injuries further assessed. It was determined there were no serious concerns to his health at this time.
 
Kierstead and Leon were both amazed by Ornge’s response and how the team navigated to find them in such a remote location to provide care.
 
“I am flabbergasted and humbled by what occurred,” said Kierstead. “The pilots to navigate where they were. It was unbelievable. Please pass on mine and Sue’s thanks for an unbelievable effort by the paramedics, pilots and Ornge as a unit.”
 
Kierstead plans to make more portage adventures and is grateful knowing Ornge is at the ready to help those in need. “I will be going back out again,” said Kierstead. “It brings me comfort knowing Ornge are there for me and everyone else.”
 
We appreciate the fantastic efforts of paramedics Carla and John, pilots Greg and Glenn, and the Operations Control Centre team for their excellent coordination and response time to this call. Your important work serves as a reminder that across the province, Ornge is there for our communities when they need us most.

--

Have you or a loved one been transported by Ornge? Sharing your story helps raise awareness about safety and offers other patients some insight into experiences they may be facing. Share your story today!

• Patients and Families