Lost hikers rescued by CBP crew
An Air and Marine Operations UH-60 helicopter crew used a hoist to extract two hikers from the Catalina Mountains near Tucson, Arizona, US
An Air and Marine Operations (AMO) UH-60 helicopter crew used a hoist to extract two hikers from the Catalina Mountains near Tucson, Arizona, US, shortly before 08:00 hrs on 21 March, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) has reported.
The hikers found themselves in trouble the night before after becoming exhausted and unable to navigate in the darkness, said the CBP. The service noted that although a search and rescue team from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) had located the pair before midnight, they were in an area that rescuers approximated would take six hours to reach on foot. It was determined that an air rescue would be needed, but the PCSD air crew was unable to find a safe place to land.
Shortly after 01:00 hrs, PCSD contacted AMO and asked if a hoist-equipped aircraft was available to airlift the hikers and rescue workers who had made it to the location. AMO accepted the mission and launched its Black Hawk helicopter at first light.
After the AMO crew completed the extraction portion of the mission, the hikers were transported to a nearby helicopter pad where they were evaluated by EMS personnel and found to be in good health.
Rescue video of hikers lost overnight in the #catalinamountains near #Tucson #CBP Air and Marine Operations #AMO pic.twitter.com/HIvKT0bnAX
— CBP Arizona (@CBPArizona) March 21, 2017