ASTORIA, Ore. — The Coast Guard rescued an injured hiker approximately seven miles north of Packwood, Wash., Saturday.
Coast Guard Sector Columbia River, located in Astoria, received a report from Lewis County, Wash., stating a hiker had fallen approximately 100 feet down a ravine south of Mount Ranier in the vicinity of Tatoosh Lake. The fallen hiker, who remained visible to his hiking companion, was reportedly bleeding, unable to walk, soaking wet and lying in snow.
Coast Guard Sector Columbia River notified an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew already on another rescue mission at Cape Kiwanda, Ore.
The helicopter crew completed the rescue mission at Cape Kiwanda, refueled and headed north.
The crew arrived on scene at approximately 9 p.m. and located the hikers. The helicopter crew then lowered two rescue swimmers with hypothermia treatment packs and other medical equipment. The swimmers prepared the injured hiker for a hoist while the remaining crew hoisted the uninjured hiker and departed for Olympia, Wash., due to fuel and allowed flight time limitations.
Sector Columbia River, meanwhile, launched a second MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Astoria.
The crew arrived on scene at approximately 11:30 p.m. and successfully hoisted the injured hiker and the two rescue swimmers to the helicopter.
The crew then transported the hiker to awaiting EMS in Olympia.
The injured hiker was last reported to have a broken arm, broken shoulder and possible spinal injuries but to be in stable condition.
