The United States Park Police Aviation personnel made a daring hoist rescue in Shenandoah National Park.
Eagle 1 flew to Stoney Man Mountain on Friday October 8, 2010 at about 7:00 pm to assist National Park Service Rangers with a 66 year old male who had fallen about twenty feet down a cliff and had suffered head trauma. Sergeant Craig Davis piloted the craft with Sergeant David Hurley and Officer Brooke Robbins in the Rescue Technician positions. The NPS Rangers were with the patient at the cliff base.
When Eagle 1's staff located the rescue scene, they found that the sun had almost set and the winds at the cliff face were high and erratic. The NPS Rangers were requested to move the patient nearer the top of the cliff. After the Rangers repositioned the patient, the Eagle's staff hoisted him aboard the aircraft while being buffeted by strong winds.
The patient was flown to Fairfax Hospital where he was treated further.
These types of hoist rescues are difficult, however the United States Park Police trains with surrounding First Responder Units frequently so that they can perform these missions safely.
This mountain is 4011 feet high and located at 38.598 n/78.372 w.
Photo courtesy Ranger Scott Gray of Shenandoah National Park.
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