An Alaska Army National Guard aircrew flying a UH-60L Black Hawk rescued an injured mountain biker east of Kenai on Monday.
The aircrew deployed at a request from the Alaska State Troopers for a hoist-capable aircraft, according to a National Guard press release, to help evacuate the biker, who had a possible spinal injury.
“The patient was mountain biking off the road system and we were informed of a possible spinal injury,” said trooper Lt. Col. Christen Brewer, director of the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center.
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The standby aircrew from 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment sortied at 6:30 p.m. from Bryant Army Airfield, located near Anchorage, according to the news release. The bicyclist was initially stabilized by responders with Cooper Landing Emergency Services, according to the news release, before the aircraft arrived on-scene and hoisted the casualty in a basket designed for spinal injuries.
“With no place to land the Black Hawk and a potential back injury, it was especially crucial to secure the patient for the hoist,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 J.D. Miller, pilot in command for the rescue.
The aircrew transported the casualty to Providence Alaska Medical Center and handed them off to civilian medical personnel, the news release said.
• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at (757) 621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.
