EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations (AMO), assisted in rescuing a wounded hiker in the Franklin Mountains State Park on Thursday, Feb. 19, according to the CBP.
At 9:45 a.m. on Thursday, the El Paso Fire Department’s Combined Search and Rescue team (COMSAR) personnel advised the AMO El Paso Air Branch that a 21-year-old male hiker had fallen about 150 feet from Mammoth Rock Trail, which resulted in an apparent open fracture to one knee, rendering him immobile.
Both the El Paso Police and Fire departments requested urgent aviation assistance for the rescue mission.
Due to the remote and rugged terrain, ground evacuation was not likely within a safe or reasonable timeframe. COMSAR personnel were on scene providing emergency medical care.
The El Paso Air Branch deployed a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and aircrew to assist. Aircrew established communication with ground rescue personnel and executed a precise hover, successfully conducting a 250-foot hoist operation to get the hiker.
The aircrew safely extracted the hiker and accompanying COMSAR team from the mountains. Due to the severity of the hiker’s injuries, the hiker and COMSAR personnel were immediately transported to a Level I trauma center.
“Air and Marine Operations, an operational component of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, is proud to partner with local agencies, offering critical aviation resources in emergency situations. This successful rescue highlights the dedication and professionalism of all personnel involved,” read the statement from the CBP.
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