A hiker who fell more than 100 feet down a mountain in Washington state had to be rescued by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter after suffering serious injuries that left her unable to make it down on her own.
The 33-year-old woman was hiking near Mount Larrabee, close to the Canadian border, when she plunged about 120 feet down a steep gully on the south side of the mountain, according to the Coast Guard.
The frightening fall happened Saturday, and rescuers said the woman’s injuries were serious enough that she could not safely descend without help.
Because the area was remote and crews needed to get her off the mountain before nightfall, Washington state emergency officials called in a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew to assist.
The rescue was not easy.
The aircrew searched the narrow gully for about 40 minutes while racing against fading daylight and dwindling fuel. Just as time was running short, they spotted the injured hiker.
At around 8:40 p.m. PT, the crew hoisted her into the helicopter.
Video from the rescue captured the tense moment as a member of the woman’s hiking group called out to the approaching aircraft.
“Come save my friend!” the person can be heard yelling as what appeared to be green fabric was waved to help signal the crew.
The injured woman was flown to Bellingham Airport, north of Seattle, where emergency medical responders were waiting.
Lt. Commander Marshall Burtt, the aircraft commander for the rescue, praised the teamwork that helped get the woman to safety.
“This successful outcome is a direct result of the outstanding teamwork and rapid coordination between our agencies,” Burtt said in a statement.
He thanked search and rescue teams, as well as fire officials from Whatcom County and Bellingham, who helped support the mission.
Burtt also credited the woman’s hiking group for being prepared and helping rescuers during the emergency.
“Equipped with advanced survival training and critical safety gear, the hiking party was uniquely prepared to serve as active partners during the rescue of their fellow hiker,” he said.
Mount Larrabee sits in Washington’s northern Cascades range and reaches about 7,861 feet at its summit, according to the Washington Trails Association.
