In early August 2016 a group of six set off from Big Heart Lake in the Cascades toward Azure Lake in North Cascades National Park. Azure Lake is a pristine, 89-acre body of water just under one mile east of McMillan Spire in a remote location in the park, well off of any maintained trails.
The group’s plan took them on a route where they expected to not encounter other human beings for three days. Things were going well when their plans were suddenly interrupted by a fall. An 11-year-old member of their group had injured his knee on a sharp-edged granite boulder, slicing open a wound 1.5″ across, 1/2″ wide and 1/4″ deep. The group tended to the injury and managed to stop the bleeding, but found that any walking would cause blood to gush through the bandages they had applied. Walking was out of the question.
Members of the group took turns carrying Joe, the 11-year-old, the roughly quarter-mile remaining to Azure Lake, where they set up camp. Using a Delorme InReach “SEND” (“Satellite Emergency Notification Device”), a member of the group communicated with search and rescue personnel, discussing options. The device works by pairing with a cell phone, which is used to send and receive text messages via satellite.
It was clear that carrying Joe out wasn’t going to work, as they were miles from any road. Eventually, the group received word that an SAR EMT would be sent out to them the next morning to evaluate Joe in person.
That EMT began hiking out to the group at 2:30 AM, and reached their campsite about 7.5 hours later. On arrival, the EMT – Karl – sat down with Joe, evaluated him, confirmed that Joe would not be walking out, and began to plan.
Three options were on the table:
1. Carry him out — an operation that Karl estimated would take at least 75 people, twenty of whom had already started hiking out toward them in the event that became necessary.
2. Helicopter evacuation, with Joe being hoisted up to the Huey
3. The same helicopter ride, with the chopper landing.
The video can take it from here.
Joe was transported to an area hospital where he received stitches for his knee injury.
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These people being rescued sound like tools.
Fat dads gotta walk out
ANTE TODO SALUD:. BUEN TRABAJO
@2:28: "Do you want to get your arm chopped off??"
Not a f*(&ing luggage service, guy
Real superheros don’t need to wear capes. Thank you to all our emergency workers worldwide. Thank you.
I’d say get your backpacks later. First things first.
Maybe that’s why I wouldn’t be good for this job.
That is truly some spectacular scenery
guy in the blue shirt is just there lol. hes like the quiet kid in the class room.
They started the rescue helicopter, lowered the stretcher and made the rescue
That rescue was amazing to watch and the scenery…..! Holy cow that place is beautiful! 🙌â¤ï¸
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The medical bill is gonna be fun for sure
What if he faked it for the free ride?
If it was my family they would have told me to walk it off
Isn't this just like Far Cry? Just land right next to them. Don't worry about the trees.
the anxiety rom just being so high
why is one of the rescuer carrying a gun?
I thought they would have left the hi-line attached to the hook after the first lift then the aircrewman could have pulled the hook direct back to himself each lift instead of dropping the line. Respect though to all SAR folk wherever in the world they operate.
amazing great to see how they operate….brave men.
ABSOLUTE HEROES!!
Imagine they took him to the end place for their hike just so they could say they got there before the other people. xD
what's your name?
"Joe"
"Joe?"
"Joe mama"
Aight boys cut the rope
These guys are superheroes. I took Part in a helicopter rescue on an Austrian glacier. A guy we met fell in a crevasse and wasnt able to move on. whitout the rescue Team he wouldnt have a Chance to escape the glacier….
Huey?
Such a cool job
Joe who?
Thank all that is good that people like this exist.
That takes some big ass kahunas to pull off..
how friendly and responsible they are!!!
We don't have such job even on land road.. forget about air support.
enough praising. lets shame the dad now.
All that for a scrapped knee? Lol
I’m guessing $20k per hiker
When I was 15, a girl on my ski racing team found herself on the wrong side of quite a sizable mountain here in Canada. 3 of us boys with our gigantic brains decided to try and bring her back, which resulted in all 4 of us stuck in the evening on a side of the mountain that couldn't safely be traversed in ski boots. When rescue came, Dave asked us our names and ages, and used that info to give us callsigns as if we were joining the team. My name is Steven and I was 15, so I ended being Sierra15 and so on. He introduced himself as Alpha11 and because of his approach, our fear was non-existent and we were confident and diligent in following his instructions. They efficiently hoisted us from a small 10 ft. patch just above a large cliff surrounded by pine trees within 15 minutes of their arrival. People that do this work are a special breed. Respect and god speed brothers.
I love that huey sound…
Like and subscribe to the channel.
People take chances hiking now because they have means of calling for help. Risking lives of others to rescue them.
Does the guy that repel stay strapped too or just the dude at the top
Thank you for the video. Next time I will wait to eat after all the spinning on the cable stops! I worked as a NPS Ranger for a summer season in a park so well trod that they paved the trail to make it a sidewalk. We would get the daily printed briefings of the stupid-donkey stuff that people would do or let happen to themselves or each other at all of the National Parks. One of my fellow rangers, who was a career guy, had had his fill of getting people out of rock climbing predicaments.
I remember reading the NPS internal news of a boy scouting trip into an area that was flooding. These guys decided to cross a river and lost a guy. So instead of turning back they pushed on. Had to cross the river again later down/up the trail. Lost another two. Pushed on.
These types of trips are very high risk, and if it takes 20 plus people to get one guy out of a situation by ground, then they probably should set off as 20 people. At least they would have more brain cells to rub together. It is an extremely costly affair to get your sorry ass bailed out relying on technology instead of planning and support.
Pardon me for urinating on the campfire, but adventurers should have to post a bond or deposit before embarking on this kind of activity. They are extremely lucky that others who have the actual tools and skill sets happen to have a spirit of assistance and adventure as well as a government budget to pay for their time, tools, toys, and training.
Next time, drop ‘em off with the heli and pick ‘em back up when they’ve gotten their fresh air and view. If they can’t afford that, why are they going to rely on someone else to pay it. Or at least reduce their opportunity for bad luck and poor planning by planning one or the other directions by reliable transportation. I love the outdoors and love to get away from people, as my writing might suggest. But I don’t want to hurt others due to my poor decisions or accidental missteps. And I sure couldn’t pay the bill.
This kind of activity is a luxury afforded to very few, and I’d rather see the government rescue funds and volunteer hours spent on getting more people out of the city for a simple camping trip. As it worked out I spent the rest of that year doing that. By good fortune, I was hired by a private organization that got 5th grade kids from urban neighborhoods to a safe but adventurous and educational facility that really blew their minds and opened their hearts after the experience. Some of my best memories are from that year.
Many thanks to the men and women who give so much to bail us out from our mistakes, overreaches, and well-planned misfortunes, and to the taxpayer that makes it possible.
Do you have to pay for an evacuation like this in USA? Is it covered by insurance? How does it work?
Real World Police described the wrong Azure Lake. The Azure Lake they were at is 83 miles (134 km) south of here, next to Azurite Lake.
Glad to see they used a guide rope, so they’re not spinning out of control on the hoist up.
Textbook SAR Case!!! Coast Guard Alaska would be proud
Amazing
That's an expensive cut.
75 guys to carry 1 boy out????
Can someone tell me why the the one medic on the side of the heli had a glock holstered in his front? I cant find a reasoning for being armed when youre doing this kind of evacuation in the middle of nowhere. (Not saying this is wrong or anything, im sure theres a reason, but im just curious.)
I'm sick IRL and can't join the services but I'm thinking about going into law enforcement. Not an officer but some station guy maybe. Idk. Respect for the boys in blue.