Members of a volunteer search and rescue team from the Yukon were toasting success within hours of arriving in northern B.C. yesterday.

They had spotted Punch McLean, the missing miner and junior hockey great, as he wandered through the bush near Turnagain Lake, B.C.

"It was your Yukon guys who found him," helicopter pilot Jim Reed told the Star this morning

"I was giving them a bit of a ricky around the area showing them where Punch had gone missing, just so they could see the land .... We were heading back to the search base and one of the guys in the back said,

'Hey, there's somebody on that old trail there.'

"I recognized Punch right away by the old sweater he was wearing."

McLean, best known for his years as the victorious coach of the Western Hockey League's New Westminster Bruins, had been missing since last weekend.

He had no supplies nor rain gear when he went out last Sunday, and the chances of finding the 77-year-old man in good health were growing dim.

Reed landed the helicopter as close as he could and stepped out to greet McLean.

"I got out of the helicopter and he threw his arms up and then he threw his arms around me. There wasn't a lot of words said. It was pretty emotional."

The search and rescue team, made up of Reed and a group of volunteers from the Yukon, flew McLean back to the Stikine, B.C. nursing station, where he was seen by nurse and given a clean bill of health.

"He was pretty worn out, but in good shape," Reed said. "For a guy who's just a few weeks away from 78, he sure held up being four days out with no food or water."

McLean was first reported missing last Sunday night. He had separated from his prospecting team to flag out an new access road, but when he didn't return by nightfall, his friends called the local RCMP.

Back home, McLean told friends and rescuers he had slipped down an embankment, become disoriented and couldn't find his way back through the thick, unbroken brush.

By Monday morning, the word was out, and volunteers from around northern B.C. were coming in to join the search.

A group from Atlin arrived early in the week with a radio repeater system, which won high praise from Reed.

"There's nothing more frustrating for a pilot than not being able to communicate with people on the ground," the Pacific Western Helicopters pilot said.

Reed said the volunteer effort was overwhelming, and passed on thanks from McLean and his family to everyone who came out to join the search.

Members of a volunteer search and rescue team from the Yukon were toasting success within hours of arriving in northern B.C. yesterday.

They had spotted Punch McLean, the missing miner and junior hockey great, as he wandered through the bush near Turnagain Lake, B.C.

"It was your Yukon guys who found him," helicopter pilot Jim Reed told the Star this morning

"I was giving them a bit of a ricky around the area showing them where Punch had gone missing, just so they could see the land .... We were heading back to the search base and one of the guys in the back said,

'Hey, there's somebody on that old trail there.'

"I recognized Punch right away by the old sweater he was wearing."

McLean, best known for his years as the victorious coach of the Western Hockey League's New Westminster Bruins, had been missing since last weekend.

He had no supplies nor rain gear when he went out last Sunday, and the chances of finding the 77-year-old man in good health were growing dim.

Reed landed the helicopter as close as he could and stepped out to greet McLean.

"I got out of the helicopter and he threw his arms up and then he threw his arms around me. There wasn't a lot of words said. It was pretty emotional."

The search and rescue team, made up of Reed and a group of volunteers from the Yukon, flew McLean back to the Stikine, B.C. nursing station, where he was seen by nurse and given a clean bill of health.

"He was pretty worn out, but in good shape," Reed said. "For a guy who's just a few weeks away from 78, he sure held up being four days out with no food or water."

McLean was first reported missing last Sunday night. He had separated from his prospecting team to flag out an new access road, but when he didn't return by nightfall, his friends called the local RCMP.

Back home, McLean told friends and rescuers he had slipped down an embankment, become disoriented and couldn't find his way back through the thick, unbroken brush.

By Monday morning, the word was out, and volunteers from around northern B.C. were coming in to join the search.

A group from Atlin arrived early in the week with a radio repeater system, which won high praise from Reed.

"There's nothing more frustrating for a pilot than not being able to communicate with people on the ground," the Pacific Western Helicopters pilot said.

Reed said the volunteer effort was overwhelming, and passed on thanks from McLean and his family to everyone who came out to join the search.