West Shore RCMP and Metchosin Search and Rescue crews were called to find a lost hiker in Thetis Lake Regional park Saturday night.
RCMP say had he heeded the instructions of the 911 dispatcher he would have been found much earlier.
The man, in his 40's, called at 10 p.m. to report he became lost after sunset. The dispatcher told him to stay where he was as help was on the way.
But Cnst. Nancy Saggar says the man didn't listen, making it very difficult to track him:
" However they ignored the direction, and actually refused to comply with that, and did not stay put, which caused us to really draw out the search for this individual. So what happens when you call and say that you're lost, we're using technology like tracking your phone in order to try to pinpoint where you are in a large regional area like Thetis Lake Park."
Saggar says the man was eventually found at 3:00 a.m. Sunday, 5 hours after he reported he was lost.
She reminds hikers to be let someone know where you are going to be, what path you are going to take, and when you expect to be home -- and ALWAYS listen to the 911 dispatcher.