EL PASO, Texas - An injured hiker was airlifted from rugged terrain in the Franklin Mountains after a fall left rescue crews unable to safely carry an individual out of the area.
High-altitude rescue in Franklin Mountains
What we know:
The rescue happened Aug. 15 in Franklin Mountains State Park, where the hiker suffered multiple injuries after a severe fall, according to CBP and the U.S. Border Patrol's El Paso Sector.
CBP's Air and Marine Operations received a request for assistance around 9:30 p.m. from El Paso Fire Department personnel working with the Combined Search and Rescue Team.
Rescuers were treating the injured hiker, but the steep terrain prevented them from safely transporting the patient out of the mountains, CBP said. The injured hiker was airlifted from rugged terrain in the Franklin Mountains after a fall left rescue crews unable to safely carry the person out of the area.
Black Hawk helicopter deployed for night operation
What they're saying:
An off-duty Air and Marine Operations UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew was called to assist with the rescue. The crew coordinated with Border Patrol's Special Operations Detachment and the Combined Search and Rescue Team to assist the hiker in a remote, high-altitude area.
"Our collaboration with COMSAR resulted in a successful rescue," Efren Gonzalez, director of the Air and Marine Operations El Paso Air Branch, said in a statement. "I am proud of our aircrew and agents."
Dramatic helicopter rescue
The helicopter crew used night vision goggles while operating over the mountainous terrain and conducted multiple hoists from more than 90 feet above the ground, according to CBP.
Border Patrol said rescuers used specialized Helicopter Rope Suspension Techniques to conduct the high-altitude hoist and airlift the patient from the hazardous terrain. The hiker was stabilized before being transported to University Medical Center of El Paso for treatment.
What we don't know:
CBP did not provide additional information about the person's condition.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Border Patrol's El Paso Sector.