VIDEO can be viewed on the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office YouTube Channel or Facebook Page
Rescue 3 Crew Safely Evacs Deceased Hiker and Search & Rescue Crews from Harrison Peak Area in Boundary County
Rescue 3 was requested to assist Boundary Search and Dive Rescue Team (BSDRT) members with the recovery of a 36-year-old climber who had fallen several hundred feet and died from his injuries. After inserting two Helicopter Rescue Medics (HRMs), the decedent, a BSDRT member, and one HRM were retrieved from the rugged hillside before returning to the landing zone. Afterward, Rescue 3 returned and safely extracted the remaining BSDRT member and HRM.
On Sunday, July 14, 2024, Spokane Regional Air Support Unit (SRASU) Rescue 3 was called to assist with the recovery of a deceased climber in the Harrison Peak area, east of Priest Lake.
The climber was reported missing on Friday, July 12, 2024, and Boundary Search and Dive Rescue Team (BSDRT) members conducted a multi-day search, assisted by Two Bear Air and Civil Air Patrol, locating him on July 14, 2024, at approximately 10:37 am. BSDRT advised it appeared the climber had fallen several hundred feet and succumbed to his injuries.
Due to the rugged terrain, BSDRT requested Spokane County Sheriff’s Office air assets to retrieve the climber’s remains. SRASU Rescue 3 responded and hoisted the subject and BSDRT members out of the remote area.
During the recovery, with no safe place to land, Rescue 3 conducted several hoist retrievals, the longest being approximately 85 feet, while Rescue 3 Pilots skillfully navigated approximately 20-25 knot winds.
Afterward, Rescue 3 returned to Spokane County, landing at Felts Field at approximately 6:45 pm.
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Spokane Regional Air Support Unit Rescue 3 Flight Crew
Pilot: Don Kresse
Pilot: Jacob Pomerenke
Crew Chief: Jeff Welton, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, Corporal
Helicopter Rescue Medic: David Sanchez Spokane Valley Fire Department, Engineer/Paramedic
Helicopter Rescue Medic: Scott Niebuhr, Spokane Valley Fire Department, Firefighter/Paramedic
This Spokane County Sheriff Office news article "Rescue 3 Crew Safely Evacs Deceased Hiker and Search & Rescue Crews from Harrison Peak Area" was originally found on https://www.spokanecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=7