EL PASO, Texas — A U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations helicopter crew conducted a joint rescue of an injured hiker in the Franklin Mountains on Wednesday, working alongside El Paso County Combined Search and Rescue in a coordinated hoist operation, according to the agency.
According to CBP, the El Paso Air Branch’s UH-60 Blackhawk crew was conducting rescue training when the branch received a call from El Paso County Combined Search and Rescue requesting assistance retrieving an injured hiker. The Blackhawk was configured for helicopter suspension rope technique, and three members of the Combined Search and Rescue team from the El Paso Police Department — who had been training with CBP — were transported to Munday’s Gap so they could reach the hiker, according to CBP.
At 1:18 p.m., an Air and Marine Operations rescue specialist rappelled from the helicopter to assist with a basket rescue of the injured hiker, the agency said. With help from the Combined Search and Rescue team, the patient was loaded into the rescue basket and the basket, along with the rescue specialist, was lifted off, according to CBP.
The aircrew transported the patient and rescue specialist to a safe landing spot in McKelligon Canyon, where the helicopter briefly landed to load the patient and rescue specialist inside the aircraft, according to the agency. The patient was then transported to a local hospital for treatment.
“CBP El Paso Air Branch continues to work with and train with our local search and rescue partners for emergencies just like the one we had today,” CBP El Paso Air Branch Director Efren Gonzalez said in a statement. “These rescue capabilities and the skill sets we have developed through training together continue to save lives in this rugged mountain and desert region of ours.”
According to CBP, the El Paso Air Branch regularly trains with local law enforcement and search and rescue partners for operations in West Texas’ rugged mountain and desert terrain.
Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection
