Muhammad Amanullah — September 5, 2026
A man who had been missing for several days in a mountainous area of British Columbia has been found alive after an extensive search involving multiple rescue teams, drones, helicopters and police dogs.
Stanislav Volo had gone hiking on Sunday in the Squamish area, near the Sea to Sky Gondola, but failed to return home as expected. His disappearance prompted a major search operation involving Squamish Search and Rescue and other emergency response teams.
No Sign of Hiker for Several Days
Volo had planned to hike the Mount Habrich Loop.
Surveillance footage later confirmed that he had arrived at the upper station of the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish at around 11:30am on Sunday.
When he failed to return home and his family could no longer contact him, concerns about his safety grew. Police and search-and-rescue teams were notified, leading to a large-scale operation in the surrounding mountainous terrain.
Search Operation Intensifies
Squamish Search and Rescue and several other emergency teams searched difficult mountain trails and forested areas for hours.
The operation continued beyond daylight hours, with rescuers carrying out searches late into the night and again in the early morning.
The rugged geography of the area made the operation particularly challenging, requiring rescuers to search across a wide range of difficult-to-access locations.
Drones and Helicopters Used
Drones, helicopters and police dogs were deployed as part of the search for Volo.
Volunteers from several search-and-rescue organizations also took part in the operation, helping teams investigate possible routes and locations where the missing hiker could have been stranded.
Dense forests, steep terrain and limited access can make mountain rescue operations especially difficult, and crews continued monitoring potential areas as the search progressed.
Emergency Call on Tuesday
A major breakthrough came on Tuesday when Volo made a brief 911 call.
The call gave his family and rescuers renewed hope that he was still alive and somewhere in the mountainous area.
According to his sister, Ola Volo, the voice and phone number associated with the call led the family to believe that it was indeed her brother.
However, the communication was extremely brief and rescuers were unable to establish immediate further contact with him.
For the family, the call was crucial because it confirmed that Volo was alive and appeared to be dealing with a difficult situation somewhere in the mountains.
Finally Reaches a Road
Volo was eventually found alive on Friday.
His sister confirmed that he managed to make his way to a road on foot.
According to the family, he was taken to hospital for medical assessment and treatment. Family members were also making their way to the hospital to be with him.
His survival after spending several days in challenging mountainous terrain brought relief to his family and the search-and-rescue teams involved in the operation.
Rescue Teams Praised for Efforts
The sustained efforts of the search-and-rescue teams were an important part of the operation.
Rescuers searched numerous areas and possible routes while aerial surveillance technology was used to help locate the missing man.
Mountain hiking can become dangerous quickly because of changing weather, difficult terrain, low temperatures and limited communication.
Experts routinely advise hikers to prepare carefully before heading into remote areas, including informing others of their planned route, checking weather conditions and carrying reliable emergency communication equipment.
Family Relieved After Days of Searching
After several days of uncertainty, news that Volo had been found alive brought relief to his family and everyone involved in the search.
His disappearance had raised serious concerns about his safety, but his ability to reach a road on his own marked a positive outcome to the search.
Further details about the incident could help establish where Volo spent the missing days and how he managed to survive the difficult conditions before reaching safety.
