Tuesday evening on Aug. 26, Wolfe County Search & Rescue was dispatched to Hanson’s Point for an 18-year-old camper experiencing a medical emergency.
Hanson’s Point is accessed by an unofficial trail, and the patient’s location was approximately 2.5 miles from the nearest trailhead. Due to the remote location and the potential severity of the patient’s condition, a WCSAR team member and a paramedic with Kentucky’s Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (HART) Task Force conducted an initial medical evaluation over the phone.
Because of the distance and challenging terrain, Wolfe County Emergency Management was requested to activate the HART team for a possible aerial hoist rescue. Additional manpower was also requested from our friends at Powell County Search & Rescue.
The plan was for rescuers to hike approximately 2.5 miles to the patient, a team member who is also a member of the HART team would conduct a face-to-face medical assessment, evaluate the site for a hoist operation and then determine whether an aerial extraction was necessary and could be achieved safely.
Once our team reached the camper and completed an in-person assessment, it was determined that a hoist rescue was the safest and most appropriate option.
Shortly afterward, the Kentucky State Police Aviation Unit arrived overhead. A Rescue Specialist (RS) was lowered from the aircraft to the patient. The RS was also a paramedic and concurred with the assessment that an aerial hoist was warranted rather than attempting a lengthy ground carry through difficult terrain.
The patient was packaged in an AVED (Aerial Victim Extraction Device) and hoisted from the location into the aircraft along with the Rescue Specialist. A tag line was utilized with a quick release by a team member on the ground to ensure a safe transfer from the cliff to the Helicopter. He was then flown to a nearby landing zone and transferred to waiting EMS personnel for transport to a local hospital for definitive care. Team members exited the trail system at approximately 1:30 am.
This rescue was a great example of multiple agencies working together to provide the safest and most efficient outcome for a patient in a remote and difficult-to-access location. It also shows the benefit and capability of the HART program that’s now operating in Ky.
Wolfe County Search & Rescue would like to thank Powell County Search & Rescue , Kentucky Emergency Management, Kentucky State Police aviation unit, the HART team, and Powell County Emergency Medical Services for their assistance and professionalism
