A family out for a hike was shocked to find a rope strung at neck level across a trail used by ATVs, mountain bikers, joggers and other outdoor enthusiasts.
Danica Stewart was out for a hike on Thanksgiving Monday with her husband and children when they came upon a rope tied to two large trees on a trail accessed from Beck Road near the Nanaimo River Hatchery in Cassidy, south of Nanaimo.
Stewart told police she was shocked to think someone would do such a thing. She and her family have used the trail many times to access the Nanaimo River and it was the first time she has seen anything like this.
The rope was strung across one of the area's trails that runs parallel to the river shoreline.
"They bought the rope for this purpose," Stewart said. "It's got the [price] tag on it and everything."
Stewart went on to say she knows of other incidents where cyclists were seriously injured in Victoria, Vancouver and the B.C. Interior when they were knocked off bikes by wire or ropes stretched at neck height across pathways.
"They had it in Stanley Park," Stewart said. "This girl, she's a quadriplegic now because she got hit there. It could hit you in the chest and knock your wind out, but it could also break your neck."
The Stewarts took down the rope, which is coloured in a green camouflage pattern to make it less visible, and posted an image of it on Facebook to warn the public.
Nanaimo RCMP said they have received no other reports of similar incidents.
Anyone with information about this incident, please contact the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com.