A 60-year-old male hiker in distress was assisted by personnel of the TTPS Coastal and Air Support Unit, in making his way out of the Northern Range, last night.
The Unit received the distress call from the hiker around 7 pm on Thursday 26th March, 2026, and quickly sprang into action, conducting a joint and coordinated search effort, with the assistance of the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service’s Santa Cruz Search and Rescue Team. The hiker who was eventually spotted, was guided to safety by the police drone technology.
ASP (Ag.) Rampallard is advising hikers to do proper planning before going on hikes, to share their routes and expected return times with others and carry essentials like water, a charged phone and identification. They should also stay on marked trails and remain aware of their surroundings.
He says if they encounter suspicious activities or feel unsafe during the hike, leave the area and report it promptly. Hikers should also hike under the guidance of an accredited and qualified guide when venturing into forested areas and furnish relevant police station districts with their contact information and details of all those participating in the hike.
The rescue operation was sanctioned by DCP ‘Operations’, Suzette Martin, strategically coordinated by ACP Tactical Support, Collis Hazel and directly supervised by ASP (Ag.) Rampallard.