MOUNT HOOD NATIONAL FOREST, Oregon — An Oregon Army National Guard helicopter safely hoisted an injured logger from a remote area of Mount Hood National Forest after steep, rugged terrain prevented other means of rescue, fire department officials said.
The incident occurred Thursday, about 60 miles southeast of Portland, when a falling tree struck and pinned the logger. According to the Estacada Fire District, initial reports indicated the logger suffered a broken leg and possible additional injuries.
The logger’s leg was initially trapped under the tree, but other loggers on the scene were able to cut away the tree and free the injured leg, Estacada Battalion Chief Matt Aalto told The Associated Press.
Fire crews responding to the emergency had to navigate around downed trees and manage steep elevation changes, making the hike to reach the injured logger both challenging and time-consuming. Once on site, first responders stabilized the logger.
An air ambulance helicopter without hoist capabilities was unable to safely access the patient due to the difficult terrain and dense tree cover. A ground extraction was deemed dangerous and would have taken too long.
As a result, the Oregon Army National Guard was called in with an HH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The logger was placed in a rescue basket, which was then hoisted approximately 200 feet (61 meters) into the air before being safely transported by helicopter.
The injured logger was taken to a local hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.
Lt. Tony Hadeed, a paramedic with the Estacada Fire Department, was on duty when the call came in. Hadeed, a former Army National Guard flight medic who previously served with the same unit that responded to the call, played a critical role in the rescue.
“This was his first time being on the other side of a rescue,” Aalto said, “but because of his previous experience, he added additional value with team coordination, site preparation, and patient packaging.”
https://abcnews.com/US/wireStory/oregon-army-national-guard-hoists-injured-logger-safety-131054915