Alaska Air National Guard rescuers save injured hiker and hunter

By Sgt. Marisa Lindsay | Alaska National Guard | August 20, 2015

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Photo By: Alejandro Pena, U.S. Air Force"> An Alaska Air National Guard HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter, assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron, takes off from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July 23, 2015. The 210th Rescue Squadron provides emergency rescue services for the citizens of Alaska in addition to training for wartime combat search and rescue missions. Rescuers used a similar craft this week to save two men.

An Alaska Air National Guard HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter, assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron, takes off from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July 23, 2015. The 210th Rescue Squadron provides emergency rescue services for the citizens of Alaska in addition to training for wartime combat search and rescue missions. Rescuers used a similar craft this week to save two men. (Photo by Alejandro Pena, U.S. Air Force)

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JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Alaska Air National Guard rescuers have had a busy week.

Rescuers are credited with saving two men – a hunter and a hiker - in different incidents that started Sunday night at 11 p.m., when Alaska State Troopers contacted the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center to report a hunter injured when he fell from a steep slope.

The Alaska Air National Guard responded to a request for assistance from the RCC with HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters from the 210th Rescue Squadron and an HC-130 King aircraft from the 211th Rescue Squadron, each with a team of Guardian Angels—a pararescueman and combat rescue officer.

The hunters activated a personal-tracking SPOT device that was used by aircrew to pinpoint the exact location of the party within Rainy Pass, about 92 miles southeast of McGrath.

The hunter was found on Monday morning, treated by a Guardian Angel team and transported to the helicopter. He was released to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital in Anchorage shortly before 1 p.m. with multiple injuries and torn ligaments in one of his legs.

The 210th, 210th Det 1, 211th and 212th Rescue Squadrons were awarded one save for this mission.

The hiker, a 28-year-old man, was rescued Monday afternoon after he fell and dislocated a shoulder. He had been hiking Crow Pass with his brother when he toppled into Raven Gorge.

The brothers activated their SPOT beacon. State police contacted the RCC at 10:15 a.m. to request help for the hiker after receiving a call from the SPOT coordination center.

The Alaska Air National Guard responded to a request for assistance from the RCC with an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter from the 210th Rescue Squadron and a team of Guardian Angels - a pararescueman and combat rescue officer.

The aircrew was able to pinpoint the party’s exact location within Crow Pass with the assistance of the hiker’s SPOT device.

The hiker’s brother was also able to provide information to assist with the helicopter landing zone and current weather conditions.

The hiker was found shortly after noon and treated by the Guardian Angel team. He was released to Providence Hospital in Anchorage at approximately 2 p.m.

The 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons were awarded one save for this mission.