Distressed, stranded hiker rescued from Huachuca Mountains near Sierra Vista

TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) - U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations agents and deputies with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office teamed up Tuesday, to rescue a stranded hiker from the Huachuca Mountains on Cochise County.

Late on Jan. 26, the Arizona Air Coordination Center received information from CCSO that a hiker was isolated and in distress in the Huachuca Mountains near Sierra Vista.

The AMO Tucson Air Branch launched a hoist equipped Black Hawk helicopter to extract the hiker, and the deputies who had responded to the distress call.

Upon arrival, the helicopter crew lowered a medical technician 150 feet to the mountains below. The agent performed an assessment of the situation on the ground, and accompanied the barefoot hiker on a 150-foot hoist back up to the hovering helicopter.

Suffering from exposure, hypothermia, and possible frostbite, the hiker was quickly flown to Montezuma Pass where CCSO Search and Rescue medical personnel began warming the subject. The helicopter crew then returned for the SAR deputies, and transported them back to their vehicles.

After rewarming and evaluation, the Black Hawk crew transported the hiker to Canyon Vista Medical Center in Sierra Vista for treatment.

“This is a mission that our aircrews train for every day,” said Deputy Director, Tucson Air Branch, Hunter Robinson. “It’s not just about the securing the border. It’s about working with the other members of the communities in which we live to keep them safe and get the job done.”

For a full video of the rescue operation, click [HERE].