Crews from Whidbey Island Naval Air Station rescued a hiker who had fallen more than 1,200 feet down a ravine Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, in the Olympic National Forest in Washington state. (U.S. Navy)
(Tribune News Service) — Crews from Whidbey Island Naval Air Station rescued a hiker who had fallen more than 1,200 feet down a ravine Saturday in the Olympic National Forest in Washington state.
The hiker, a 30-year-old man, fell down the ravine near the top of Mount Ellinor. His hiking partner could not find or contact him. Around 6:20 p.m., Navy and Mason County search and rescue responders headed to the scene, according to rescuers.
Crews searched the bottom of a large avalanche runout about 1,000 feet downslope from the top of the mountain after they did not find any trace of the man at the summit.
While searching at the base of the runout, rescuers saw a flashing light near a boulder field, which was more than 1,200 feet below where the man initially fell.
Rescuers lowered a crew member from a helicopter to the hiker’s location, quickly hoisting him aboard to avoid further avalanches or rock falls, rescuers said.
Crews took the man to Harborview Medical Center with a broken arm, symptoms of hypothermia and significant abrasions.
Whidbey naval station crews have conducted 43 missions this year, including four medical evacuations, six searches and 33 rescues.
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