Warning: This story contains a graphic video
Conservation group Save Old Growth says one of its members remains in hospital on Tuesday after protesters blocked part of the Patricia Bay Highway in North Saanich, BC on Monday.
The northbound lanes of the highway were blocked for an hour before the RCMP could clear part of the blockade and open a lane to traffic.
Traffic delays continued on the highway for several more hours, during which time a protester sitting on a ladder at the scene fell and was injured.
On Tuesday, Save Old Growth said one of its members, Trevor ‘Red’ Mckelvie, fell from a height of about 20 feet after an angry passenger removed one of the supports from the ladder.
An online fundraiser was set up to support Mckelvie’s recovery. The GoFundMe campaign says the man broke his pelvis and needs “high-risk” surgery, six months to a year to recover, and is facing possible health complications for his entire body. life.
“This is a devastating and life-changing injury,” Save Old Growth organizer Sophia Papp said in a statement. “We don’t want to risk our lives bothering people, but that’s what has happened.”
“Regular business has put us on a globally terminal trajectory, and it is up to our government, the largest legislative force, to act in the best interests of the future of the people; this includes protecting ancient forests,” he said.
On June 13, 2022, an ancient logging protest is shown on Pat Bay Highway. (CTV News)
On Tuesday, Save Old Growth said it would “continue to block roads” in BC until the provincial government puts an end to logging old forests in British Columbia.
In addition to the blockade on Vancouver Island on Monday, Save Old Growth has set up two blockades in Vancouver on Monday and Tuesday.
The RCMP says the blockade on the Patricia Bay Highway resulted in five arrests of people involved in the protest.
Teams say the scale incident is also being investigated separately.